The Chang Yung-fa Foundation and its Evergreen Symphony Orchestra (ESO) have long championed music education and talent development. Building on initiatives such as the 2025 collaboration with National Taiwan Normal University—where Artist-in-Residence Jaap van Zweden led masterclasses—the Foundation now unveils the ESO Academy, a new platform for education and outreach. Its flagship project, the 2026 Masterclass Festival, along with 2026 ESO Conducting Masterclass, invites musicians to participate.

The Festival, set for June 22–26 and July 13–19, will bring principal players from leading international orchestras to Taiwan as faculty members. Among the distinguished faculty are Eugene Izotov (San Francisco Symphony, oboe), Yubeen Kim (flute, ARD Competition winner), Mark Almond (Chicago Symphony, horn), Erin Hannigan (Rice University, oboe), Bill Williams (trumpet), Vicente Climent (Bern Symphony, trombone), Anneleen Schuitemaker (Royal Concertgebouw, harp), Nick Woud (timpani), and ESO’s own String Principal Team led by Ting-shuo Chang. Together, they will provide hands-on guidance rooted in real orchestral practices and experience.

The program spans four areas: Masterclasses, Orchestra Excerpt Sessions, Workshops and Seminars, plus a Mock Audition. Participants will receive personalized coaching on technique and interpretation, rehearse audition excerpts to strengthen ensemble skills, and gain insights into orchestra structures, performance psychology, and audition procedures. The Mock Audition will serve as a capstone, simulating professional selection processes.

Applications open April 1, with admission based on a selection process. Auditors are welcome, and tuition waivers will be offered to students with financial need, underscoring the Foundation’s commitment to accessibility. Full details are available on the ESO website.