Shanghai City Symphony Orchestra has struck a chord with 115 talented amateur musicians from China and abroad - making beautiful nonprofit music in a harmonious city.

The orchestra celebrated its second anniversary last Saturday at Shanghai Concert Hall, playing a concert under the baton of 85-year-old Cao Peng. He is a former conductor of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.

The orchestra played John Williams' "Olympic Fanfare and Theme," composed for the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, as well as Smetana's "The Moldau" and Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture."

The orchestra was founded in late 2005 by violinist Cao Xiaoxia, Cao Peng's daughter, who wanted to form a symphony orchestra for music lovers in Shanghai. Her father, then retired, embraced the idea, and the baton.

"People come to us because of their love of music. Although they are from very different occupations and professions, they want a place to express it. There is a need out there," says Cao Xiaoxia.

The first performance was in January 2006; it has staged 20 shows since then.

Musicians include medical doctors, university professors, engineers, IT workers, teachers, college students and high school students. They are joined by a few retired musicians from the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.

The foreign musicians, around a dozen, are Japanese (Cao Xiaoxia lived in Japan for years), but all nationalities are invited. See the Website for membership information.

Selection is strict - quality is the criterion.

"They are amateurs with very good training and years of practice," says Cao Xiaoxia. "Shanghai City Symphony Orchestra is the best place for their dreams to come true."

(Shanghai Daily August 1, 2008)