Cao Peng is one of the most distinguished conductors in China. He was born in Jiangyin, Jiangsu in 1925. In 1946, he entered the Arts Department of Shandong University. In 1950 he was principal conductor of both the Shanghai Film Studio Orchestra and the Beijing Film Studio Orchestra. In 1955, he went to Russia to study at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory under the celebrated conductor Leo Ginsberg. Cao Peng was appointed resident conductor of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra after his return in 1961. He is now artistic director and principal conductor of the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, artistic director of the Marco Polo Symphony Orchestra, music advisor and resident conductor of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and music director and principal conductor of the Shanghai Chamber Orchestra.

 

 

The Shanghai City Symphony Orchestra is China's only non-profit amateur orchestra, a member of the World Federation of Amateur Orchestras (WFAO). The orchestra was established in 2005 by octogenarian conductor Cao Peng, under the supervision of the Cao Peng Music Center. The intention of the orchestra is to provide a free and accessible platform for the spread of classical music in Shanghai and the rest of China. Unlike other orchestras in China, the orchestra operates on a no-profit basis, bringing together both foreign and native Chinese musicians living in Shanghai to rehearse for national and international performances. It has several youth orchestras, but also, under the direction of Cao Peng’s daughter, Cao Xiaoxia, has begun in the last two years an initiative for an orchestra for the autistic, a world first.

 

 

Tchaikovsky Capriccio Italien, Op. 45
Tchaikovsky Swan Lake, Op. 20
Tchaikovsky Overture"1812", Op. 49