曹 小夏
npowfao200712Friday, August 21, 2026- Session 1
Theme: “Enriching Society through Music: The Role and Social Impact of Orchestras”
Cao Xiaoxia
Music Director & Manager, Shanghai City Symphony Orchestra (SCSO)
Profile
Ms. Cao Xiaoxia is a Japanese-Chinese musician who has long been active in Shanghai. As the eldest daughter of renowned conductor Cao Peng, she carries forward a rich musical heritage while leading community-based cultural initiatives with the mission of “bringing warmth to society through music.”
As the Music Director and Manager of the Shanghai City Symphony Orchestra—the first amateur symphony orchestra established in mainland China—she has developed a unique model that integrates artistic excellence with social contribution. Among her most notable achievements is the founding of the Angel Music Salon in 2008, an innovative program supporting children with autism through music. The project has been widely recognized for opening children’s hearts and fostering their growth through creative musical engagement.
In recognition of her contributions, Cao received the Magnolia Award in 2018, the highest honor granted by the Shanghai Municipal Government to foreign residents. Her work continues to bridge the stage, community, and welfare sectors, demonstrating how music can enrich society and inspire hope.
Shanghai City Symphony Orchestra (SCSO)
The Shanghai City Symphony Orchestra (SCSO) was founded in 2005 by conductor Cao Peng and his daughter Cao Xiaoxia (Konatsu Ishiwata) as the first amateur symphony orchestra in mainland China. The ensemble was created in response to the wishes of former student orchestra members who hoped to continue making music after graduation. Today, SCSO includes doctors, lawyers, business professionals, and many foreign residents, all united under the philosophy of “serving society through music.”
Although the orchestra began without rehearsal space or instruments, passionate citizens gathered to support its mission, and within six months SCSO held its first charity concert. The orchestra now conducts weekly rehearsals, performs in public concert halls, and carries out more than 200 community-oriented activities annually, including outreach programs in schools, senior centers, and correctional facilities.
A signature initiative of SCSO is the Angel Music Salon, a program supporting children with autism through music. More than 200 volunteers participate, helping children grow through performance opportunities and social participation programs such as Love Classroom and Love Coffee. Many children have even taken part in international performances.
SCSO also operates a three-tier educational system for citizens, students, and youth, fostering the next generation of musicians while actively engaging in international cultural exchange. At the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, the orchestra successfully organized a grand performance of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy featuring 1,500 participants from 26 countries.
Promoting social inclusion and cultural exchange through music, SCSO stands as one of Shanghai’s leading citizen orchestras—serving as a bridge between the local community and the world.
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