The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra
​上海交响乐团

The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra (上海交响乐团) is China’s oldest symphony orchestra. First established in 1879 as the Shanghai Public Band, it was mainly an entertainment ensemble performing mostly for foreigners of the concessions in Shanghai. In 1919, Italian pianist and conductor Mario Paci took over as music director. During the 23 years under Paci, the band not only developed into a full symphony orchestra but with such artistic success it was considered “the best (orchestra) in the Far East”. Paci also expanded the orchestra’s audience base to include Chinese concertgoers.

 

In the beginning, all musicians in the orchestra were foreigners. In 1927, violinist Tan Shuzhen was the first Chinese musician to join the orchestra. After WWII, as foreign musicians left China, more and more Chinese musicians joined the orchestra. After 1949, most of the musicians were Chinese. The orchestra underwent several name changes, but the most remembered in its history was the Shanghai Municipal Orchestra (上海工部局交响乐团). In 1956, it was formally named the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.