As a conductor, CHENG learned violin and piano since childhood, and also studied traditional instruments such as Sheng and Erhu. In 1997, CHENG graduated from the National Academy of Arts majoring in violin performance, and received his master's degree in conducting from Taipei National University of the Arts in 2002. He was mentored by many maestros, including Henry MAZER, HSU Sung-Jen and Felix Chiu-Sen CHEN. In March 2006, he joined the masterclass of Maestro Lorin MAAZEL, where he found great validation from the maestro.
From 2003 to 2004, CHENG started his career as an assistant conductor with Taipei Symphony Orchestra. From 2004 to 2015 he served as the Music Director and Principal Conductor of Taipei Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Since 2007, he has been a full-time teacher in the Department of Chinese Music of Chinese Culture University. Between 2015 and 2021 he was seconded to serve as the General Director of Taipei Chinese Orchestra, and as the Acting Director of Taipei Symphony Orchestra in 2021. CHENG has in recent years received numerous invitations as a guest conductor by both professional Chinese orchestras and symphony orchestras from Taiwan and mainland China. His outstanding artistry has also put him on the podiums at concerts in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, and the United Sates. Moreover, CHENG has published 17 audio recordings. In 2017, CHENG was recognized with the “Best Interpretation” with Sketches of Taiwan during “The 28th Golden Melody Awards for Traditional Arts and Music”; a year later, he earned “Best Album Producer” in “The 29th Golden Melody Awards for Traditional Arts and Music” with Taiwanese Aboriginal Carnival.
Besides extraordinary conducting experience of Chinese and Western orchestras, CHENG is also keen to conduct and promote works by Taiwanese composers. During his tenure as the General Director of Taipei Chinese Orchestra, he led the orchestra to construct the "Voice of Taipei", which is highly acclaimed and its acoustic aesthetics has become highly recognizable from other Chinese orchestras. In 2018, the concert he conducted at the Carnegie Hall in United States made Taipei Chinese Orchestra the first professional orchestra in Taiwan to perform in that hall.