Evergreen Symphony Orchestra

· Founded in 2002 under the auspices of the Chang Yung-fa Foundation, the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra (ESO) is the only professional orchestra in Taiwan overseen by a private foundation, and one of but a few of its kind internationally.

· With a mandate, rooted in Taiwan and open to the world, of employing and training outstanding musical talent, the ESO’s mi

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· Founded in 2002 under the auspices of the Chang Yung-fa Foundation, the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra (ESO) is the only professional orchestra in Taiwan overseen by a private foundation, and one of but a few of its kind internationally.

· With a mandate, rooted in Taiwan and open to the world, of employing and training outstanding musical talent, the ESO’s mission is to offer excellent classical music experiences to a broad public.

· In 2001, the Chang Yung-fa Foundation invited musicians and eminent international arts consultants to help form the Evergreen Orchestra, initially numbering 20 members.

· In 2002, this group was expanded into a full symphony orchestra of 71 members known as the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra (ESO).

· Its first two music directors were Kek-tjiang Lim (2002-2004) and Ya-hui Wang (2004-2007).

· From 2007 to 2023, the post of music director and chief conductor was held by Prof. Gernot Schmalfuss, former guest conductor of the Munich Chamber Orchestra, the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra.

· Over the years, the ESO has worked with such international musicians as

o the Three Tenors: José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti

o conductor Helmuth Rilling

o tenor Andrea Bocelli

o sopranos Renée Fleming, Angela Gheorghiu, Sarah Brightman

o violinist Cho-liang Lin, Yu-chien Tseng, Mayuko Kamio; violist Hsin-yun Huang; cellist Wen-sinn Yang

o pianists Lang Lang, Robert Levin, Ching-yun Hu.

· In 2005 and 2006, two ESO recordings were shortlisted for the 16th and 17th Golden Melody Awards in the category of “Best Classical Album” and “Best Instrumental Performance.”

· Also in 2005, ESO invited preeminent Russian violinist Zakhar Bron to give a master class, along with a number of concerts in Taiwan.

· In 2009, ESO invited four former winners of the prestigious Premio Paganini violin competition to Taiwan for a series of concerts and activities.

· Co-producing classical albums since 2013 with the European record label CPO, the album Antonio Cartellieri Complete Symphonies was released in 2013; a second album Theodor von Schacht Symphonies Vol.1 was released in March 2014.

· Since 2004, ESO launched its international tours in 12 countries, performing in 36 cities across four continents – Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Australia – setting a milestone with over 85 performances. Highlights include:

o In 2010, the ESO gave special performances at the Shanghai Expo.

o In September 2011 and June 2013, Samsung Heavy Industries twice invited the ESO to Seoul and Busan in South Korea for performances.

o In 2012, the ESO performed at Italy’s two most prestigious musical events—the Ravenna Festival and the Ravello Festival.

o In July 2015, the ESO was invited to perform at the Sydney Opera House and the Brisbane City Hall.

o In 2014 and 2016, the National Centre for the Performing Arts twice invited the ESO to Beijing for the 4th and 5th China Orchestra Festival.

o In 2018, the ESO was invited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Evergreen Group, performing in Taipei, Beijing, Ningbo, and Shanghai.

o In both 2019 and 2024, the ESO toured and performed at the Saigon Opera House and Hanoi Opera House in Vietnam.

o In May 2024, the ESO performed at the Thailand Cultural Centre in Bangkok.

· Starting January 2025, the ESO welcomes the internationally renowned conductor Jaap van Zweden as its Artist-in-Residence.

Following in the footsteps of the Evergreen Group, whose EVA Air and Evergreen Lines have blazed many trails for linking Taiwan with the rest of the world, the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra, now working with internationally renowned conductor Jaap van Zweden, looks forward to building the Orchestra, with the goal of continuing a tradition of exporting Taiwan’s culture. The Evergreen Group, along with the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra – a subsidiary of the Chang Yung-fa Foundation, were all started by Chang Yung-fa, the guiding spirit behind Evergreen.

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