Taipei, September 11, 2026.         The Evergreen Symphony Orchestra (ESO) presented a chamber music program at the Xisong Day Care Center in Taipei on September 10, in partnership with the Hondao Senior Citizen's Welfare Foundation. Led by Chang Yung-fa Foundation CEO Demie Chung, the event was a series of educational and community outreach activities for older adults, bringing live music into community and care settings through small-ensemble performances.

The program builds on ESO's ongoing community initiatives with the Chang Yung-fa Foundation. In July, the orchestra held an 'ESO Community Concert' for local residents and invited families from social welfare organizations. An ESO percussionist has also taken part in a rhythm workshop with young people from the Bornanew Youth Caring Association, using tambourines, triangles and reusable cups to explore rhythm and teamwork.

At Xisong Day Care Center, residents ranging in age from 65 to 95 took part in the afternoon program. 'The event provided an opportunity for participants to enjoy music together while strengthening connections within the community,' The Manager from the Hondao Senior Citizen's Welfare Foundation, Ben-chi Chao said. Hondao's work spans six areas: healthy aging, quality care, financial security, self-actualization, friendly environments and talent cultivation. Together, these efforts aim to support independence, dignity and quality of life in later years.

The performance was led by ESO’s conductor Wen-chen Chuang, who also played keyboard, joined by principal oboist and principal bassoonist. The program featured familiar songs by Teresa Teng as well as popular Taiwanese-language songs, chosen to encourage participation and evoke shared memories among the residents.

In addition to the performance, the musicians introduced the oboe and bassoon and invited residents to take part using simple percussion instruments, including the triangle. 'In addition to performing, we designed an interactive listening session for the residents,' CEO Chung said. 'We introduced instruments they may not often encounter, such as the oboe and bassoon, and invited seniors to join in the performance through interactive rhythm games. We hoped to give them the opportunity to move from listeners to active participants and connect with one another through music.'

ESO will continue to bring community performances to different audiences and settings, extending the orchestra's work beyond the concert hall through music-based outreach and engagement. For more information and updates, please visit the official ESO website and its social media.