Taichung City Symphony Orchestra: Modern cultural, creative performances express a fresh vision for classical music

By Cheryl Huang
Translated by Angela Cheng

Since its founding in 2003, Taichung City Symphony Orchestra has maintained a long-term commitment to promoting local development of the arts under the guidance of general director Ms. Chang Shu-yi, musical director Ms. Chang Jia-lin and conductor Mr. Chang Zhao-xuan. This has been achieved via hundreds of concerts around Taiwan over the years as well as in cooperation with a large number of global musical masters such as Grammy Best Original Music award winner and Chinese composer Tan-dun, Vienna "piano prince" Matthias Soucek, talented Italian violinist Albeto De Meis, and internationally-renowned soprano Elena Kononeko.

This home-grown orchestra's high standards and outstanding musical performances have not only made it a local music lovers' favorite, but also seen it invest much effort into promoting music education via activities held in cooperation with various foundations. It also founded the Taichung Youth Symphony Orchestra as a means of cultivating musical education and roots among local youth, making music an essential part of their development, and breeding a future generation of musicians. The youth orchestra has also been invited to the Nijojokita Elementary School in Kyoto, Japan for a musical exchange. In addition, Taichung City Symphony Orchestra this year specially inaugurated a "music gym" series, held between July and December, which offers free lectures introducing musical beauty and appreciation to participants. These sessions are open to all regardless of age or background, with the only prerequisite being an interest in music and/or a desire to gain a better insight into the world of classical music.

Besides the "music gym" activities, the orchestra also holds regular activities every month throughout the year and performs at a wide range of venues, including rural and urban locations and overseas. Its next focus will be boosting cultural and creative performances and introducing world-renowned melodies and classical music into daily life via concepts such as "cinematic-musical fusion" that make classical music accessible and approachable for local audiences and help them realize how many ways this musical genre is a part of everyday life.

If you are interested in joining the "music gym" or any other activities organized by Taichung Symphony, contact (04) 2378-7838 or 2473-7425. For upcoming events go to website: http://www.t-cso.com/