Taipei Civic Symphony Orchestra

Taipei Civic Symphony Orchestra (TCSO), since 1999, is the largest self-funded and mostly volunteer-based symphony orchestra in Taiwan. Over half of the members in regular attendance are professional musicians, who either perform professionally, or are music teachers or school orchestra instructors. TCSO boasts rather an international membership with several expatriate players from various countries, including Japan, Germany, the USA, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands.

Since 2000, TCSO has been making seasonal appearances at the highly praised National Concert Hall in Taipei, which is the most critically selective performance venue in Taiwan. To date, the orchestra has performed close to 90 seasonal concerts. In addition, the TCSO has held pops or children's concerts, and charity concerts championing various causes, including human right and cancer research etc. TCSO has also accompanied opera and ballet performances, such as La Bohème, the Nutcracker, and Firebird.

In recent years, the TCSO has expanded its horizon on an international scale. In 2014, TCSO was invited to perform in Brisbane, Australia. It’s the first appearance of a symphony orchestra from Taiwan in Australia. In 2016, TCSO was invited to perform at the National Theatre in Yangon, Myanmar. TCSO's visit marked the first time in over 3 years to Yangon by any symphony orchestra from overseas. While in Myanmar, the TCSO held workshop with the students from international school, and the National University of Arts and Culture. These experiences confirmed TCSO’s belief that the nutrients from culture exchange and friendship will benefit deeply on both sides.

　

　
 PCOT at Performing Art Complex, Brisbane 1995
The physician cures with fervent love for human life,
With the sound of music, he comforts and enlightens people's hearts as well.

- Jerome C.H. Yen, Acting Representative of R.O.C.,
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Canberra ACT
for PCOT 's Australia Tour Concerts 1995

 At first, physicians as musicians,

 now, various kinds of professions here.

    Traditionally, physicians in Taiwan are community leaders and often organize culture events for people in their communities. Today, physicians still carry on this tradition. In fact, some of them are not just organizers but also amateur musicians. Quite a few well-known musicians come from physicians' families.

    In 1991, a group of physicians and health care professionals, very talented and dedicated, began the "Physicians' Chamber Orchestra of Taiwan ". Since then, they have given more than one hundred concerts around the island, including regular performances in the Taipei National Concert Hall. With the help of conductors Chen Ting-Hui, Chen Shu-Si and Hwang Wei-min, they have developed an ensemble that is gaining national acclaim. Many of the nationally renowned musicians had been their guest soloist.

    The members of Physicians' Chamber Orchestra of Taiwan enjoy not only music, but participation in charity events. The activities they have been involved include various of fund raising concerts for such as AIDS prevention, No Smoking for adolescence, Spinal Injuries Foundation, CPR training program, Children Cancer Foundation, Formosa Cancer Foundation. In their 1995 Australia concert tour and 1997 New Zealand concert tour, the proceeds benefited the Princess Alexandra Hospital and National Heart Foundation of Australia, and th Nathial Heart Foundation of NZ, Otago Community Hospice, Auckland Cancer Society...    In their 2001 French concert tour, the proceeds benefited the 'Vie et Espoir' association, a children cancer fundation.

~  Shao-hsuan Hsia, MD

    Since the September of 1999, a group of wind and brass and some percussion players joined PCOT to establish a new symphony orchestra - Taipei Civic Symphony Orchestra (TCSO).  TCSO gave her debut concert at the National Concert Hall in March 2000. The constituents of TCSO now includes various kinds of professions and business, with some professional musicians. Now PCOT still keeps her activities in various kinds of charity concert. And the newly formed TCSO keeps a regular seasonal appearance in the National Concert Hall of Taipei.


 TSCO at National Concert Hall, Taipei, 1999.12.1

Early Members of Physicians' Chamber Orchestra of Taiwan ( data from the  PCOT 1997 New Zealand concert tour)


Music Director: Wei-Ming HWANG
Wei-Ming Hwang currently serves as first violinist of the Taiwan String Quartet. He also teaches in Soochow University and Taiwan Normal University in Taiwan. Prior to these positions, he held a position with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra as associate concertmaster, with the National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan as concertmaster and with the Austrian Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra of Vienna as principal first violin, Hong Kong Sinfonieta as Guest concertmaster. Additionally, he has performed as a soloist in orchestras in the U.S., Austria and Taiwan.

Born in Taipei, Mr. Hwang began playing violin at the age of six, and moved to Vienna Austria at the age of thirteen to study at the Hochschule for Music and Performing Arts, where his mentors were Edvard Melkus and Ernst Kovacic. He completed the concert diploma with unanimous distinction in 1982 and went to U.S. to study with the renowned master Dorothy DeLay. He won the 1st prize in the Dorothy Staring International Violin Competition in Aspen in 1983 and graduated from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music in 1987. He also studied with the famous violinist Nathan Milstein in Zurich, Switzerland.

In the past few years, Mr. Hwang has been invited several times to Taiwan to play both as a soloist and the first violinist of the Taiwan string Quartet. His performances have attracted national attention through both television appearances and newspaper coverage. The China Times reports: "His superb technique and thoughtful interpretation of the music had the audience cheering."

Kim Chih-chin CHANG / Violin Solo / Concertmaster
Dentist, Chih-Chin Dental Clinic


Dr. Chih-Chin Chang began studying violin when he was sever. He won his first violin competition - the Taipei City Competition in 1968, and continued to play first every year in the competitions throughout his elementary school years. At the age of fifteen, Dr. Chang won the first place in the Taiwan National Junior Competition. He played "Maurice Ravel-Tzigane" which was premiere performance in Taiwan.

Later Dr. Chang entered the Taipei Medical College as a student of dentistry. During his college student years, twice as soloist, he played Mozart "Double Concerto for Violin & Viola" and Mozart "Violin Concert No.5" with the National Taiwan University Orchestra. He also performed with Taipei Medical College String Orchestra playing Vivaldi Violin Concerto "Four Seasons" in 1980. Dr. Chang and friends won the first place after both Piano Trio and String Quartet in Taiwan National Chamber Music Competition.

After graduating from college, Dr. Chang was still active in violin performances. In 1987, while he was doing his residency in hospital, he won the first place in the Taiwan National Violin Competition in the adult section. Two years later, he was invited to perform "Conus Violin Concerto" at the National Concert Hall for Taipei International Women's Club's friendship charity concert. In 1990, he played Bruch "Violin Concerto in G minor" with the combined orchestra - Taipei Medical College Orchestra and Fu-jen University Orchestra. Also he had been the conductor of Tsai-Hsing high school string orchestra and Taipei Medical College Orchestra for several years.

1991, Dr. Chang and friends founded the "Physicians Chamber Orchestra of Taiwan" and was the featured soloist playing "Bach Violin Concerto in E major" in their first concert. Sin then he has been the leader and concertmaster of PCOT. Currently Dr. Chang is a practicing dentist in his own clinic in Taipei.


Ching-hong Kao / Violin, Executive Director
/ Ophthalmologist, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei

Chieng-shiun Lee / Violin / Pediatrician, General Veterans Hospital, Taipei

Kung-chieh Yeh / Violin / Oral Pathologist, D.M.S. Harvard University

Ai-hou Wang / Violin / Ophthalmologist, National Taiwan University Hospital

Mei-in Tu / Violin / Dermatologist, Mackay Memorial Hospital

Jyh-shing, Chen / Violin / Dentist, J.S. Dental Clinic

Chien-chun Tsai / Violin / Pathologist, National Taiwan University Hospital

Kai-chung Cheng / Violin / Senior Network Communication Consultant

Ker-shiun Lin / Violin / Computer Engineer / Owner of Roca Strings Co.

Jun-ming Chen / Violin / Associate Professor, Tatung Institute of Technology

Ching-feng Cheng / Viola / Paediatrician, Tz'u-Chi Buddhist General Hospital

Liang-shiou Ou / Paediatrician, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei

Chien-chin Hung / Viola / pianist

Chiung-hua, Hu / Cello / Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Hsiao-wen Chung / Cello / Ph.D. / Associate Professor, Sec. Of Biomedical Engineering,
Dept of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University

Sophia, Shu-hua Yeh / Double Bass, Principal / Manager, CITIBANK, Taipei Branch

Chia-chen Chang / Double Bass / Occupational Therapy, National Cheng Kung University

Yiu-yuan, Chen / Violin, coach

Shih-fei Tseng / Cello, coach

Shih-wen, Huang / Double Bass / Executive assistant

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