Taipei, July 17, 2026.  The Evergreen Symphony Orchestra (ESO) presented the 'ESO Community Concert' on July 17 at the Chang Yung-fa Foundation, led by Artist-in-Residence and world-renowned conductor Jaap van Zweden. The concert brought world-class music into the neighborhood, to the children and families who most need understanding and companionship. Among the guests were children and families from the ROC Foundation for Autistic Children and Adults in Taiwan (FACT) and its Super Marvel ensemble, along with those from the Angel Heart Family Social Welfare Foundation. The hall was full, and the music clearly belonged to everyone in the room.

For the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra, the value of music lies not only in the quality of performance on stage, but in how it reaches people and stirs emotional resonance. Grounded in the steadfast support of the Chang Yung-fa Foundation, the orchestra recognizes the importance of social responsibility and is committed to bringing symphonic music from the concert hall to the wider public. Whatever age, background, or circumstance, audiences need to be able to share in the beauty of art in a safe and comfortable environment. This concert was built upon that spirit of inclusion.

Conductor van Zweden led the orchestra in Mahler's Symphony No. 1 in D major, 'Titan.” From the hushed awakening of nature that opens the work, through passages of song-like warmth and inner struggle, to a radiant finale, the symphony traces a journey from shadow into light. One audience member said: “I've attended ESO performances in the concert hall, but seeing the musicians up close this time was even more moving.” A representative of one of the invited families added: “This was the first time we'd heard this piece, and before we knew it, we found ourselves quietly humming along.”

This cause is personal for van Zweden. In the Netherlands, he founded the Papageno Foundation to support the families of children with autism. Conducting this concert in Taipei, he brought that same commitment to the podium.

The Evergreen Symphony Orchestra will continue to partner with the Chang Yung-fa Foundation on community concerts, opening the door to classical music for audiences of every background. van Zwedwn said: “The Chang Yung-fa Foundation has long been rooted in this community, caring for underprivileged children. As someone who has also founded a foundation on this same path of social responsibility, I feel that shared sense of mission is where our commitments resonate most deeply.”