The Evergreen Symphony Orchestra is a classical music ensemble based in Taipei, Taiwan. Founded in 1986, the orchestra has become one of the most prominent and respected orchestras in Asia. The Evergreen Symphony Orchestra was founded by Chang Yung-Fa, the founder of the Evergreen Group, a major shipping and transportation company based in Taiwan. Chang was a passionate music lover and wanted to create a world-class orchestra in Taiwan. He hired Gernot Schmalfuss, a German conductor, to be the orchestra's first music director. Under Schmalfuss's leadership, the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra quickly established itself as a top-tier orchestra. The orchestra's first performance was in 1986, and it has since performed in major concert halls around the world, including Carnegie Hall in New York, the Royal Albert Hall in London, and the Berlin Philharmonic Hall. The Evergreen Symphony Orchestra has had several music directors over the years, including Schmalfuss, Shao-Chia Lü, and Gábor Takács-Nagy. Lü served as music director from 1998 to 2019 and was instrumental in expanding the orchestra's repertoire and international profile. Takács-Nagy took over as music director in 2019 and has continued to build on the orchestra's success. The Evergreen Symphony Orchestra is made up of over 80 musicians from around the world. Many of the orchestra's members are from Taiwan, but there are also musicians from Europe, the United States, and other parts of Asia. The orchestra has a reputation for its high level of musicianship and its ability to perform a wide range of repertoire, from classical to contemporary music. Over the years, the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra has performed with many of the world's leading soloists, including Yo-Yo Ma, Lang Lang, and Itzhak Perlman. The orchestra has also collaborated with other major orchestras, such as the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic. One of the highlights of the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra's history was its performance at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan. The orchestra was invited to perform at the opening ceremony of the tournament, which was watched by millions of people around the world. The orchestra's performance was widely praised for its energy and enthusiasm. The Evergreen Symphony Orchestra has also won numerous awards and accolades over the years. In 1995, the orchestra won the Grand Prix at the Tokyo International Music Competition. In 2003, the orchestra was awarded the National Cultural Award by the Taiwanese government for its contributions to the arts. In addition to its performances, the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra is also committed to music education and outreach. The orchestra has a number of programs aimed at introducing young people to classical music, including concerts for schoolchildren and a youth orchestra program. Overall, the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra has established itself as one of the premier orchestras in Asia and a major player on the international classical music scene. With its commitment to excellence and its dedication to music education, the orchestra is sure to continue to inspire and delight audiences for years to come.

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