Zhang Shuo graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music, where he specialized in the guan and studied under Professor Hu Zhihou, a renowned guan instructor and musician. As a student, Zhang Shuo did well in school and performed in multiple major concerts, often in the capacity of a soloist. In 2014, he was the soloist for the Guan Concerto in the Wang Shi Chinese Orchestral Works Concert; in the same year, he also performed solo in the Liu Wenjin Guan Music Works Concert, which was part of the 4th Guan Chinese Music Week event. In addition, Zhang was also the lead guan player in the 2015 special performance put up by the Jinqing Wind and Percussion Ensemble at the Beijing Concert Hall. In 2013, Zhang Shuo received the Outstanding Performance Award in the Professional Category in the Chinese Instrumental Music Folk Music Central Judging together with the other members of the Jinqing Wind and Percussion Ensemble. This is the highest award given out by China's Ministry of Culture. In 2012, the group was awarded the Outstanding Award in the 2012 CCTV Chinese Instrumental Music TV Competition.

Zhang Shuo joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra in 2019.