violinist Xia Xiaocao (). Though he no longer keeps a schedule as demanding as that he kept in the 1990s, Cao has remained involved in a number of orchestras into the new millennium. He still regularly takes delegations abroad to perform, notably in France and Japan, and has set up two other, pathbreaking orchestras under the Cao Peng Music Center, established in 2005 - the Shanghai Student Orchestra and the Sound of Angel Salon, the latter of which trains autistic children to engage with their surroundings through music. He has also continued to conduct film scores, totalling over 100 over the course of his career. Awards Cao has received many awards for his services to classical music and education inside China, including: “Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Performance”, awarded by the State Council. “Prize for Pioneer Work Done in the Service of Chinese Culture”, awarded by the Central Affairs Committee. The inaugural prize for “Arts and Literature” awarded by the Shanghai city Cultural Union. “Prize for Outstanding Work in the Service of Education in Shanghai”, awarded by the Shanghai Educational Bureau. An honorary prize awarded by Baogang steel. Honorary prize on various occasions for services to the high arts. Shanghai City Model Elderly Citizen Top Ten Award. Double Personal Award for Contribution after Retirement to the Service of Society (Shanghai and National award). In addition, concerts were held in his honour marking 40, 50, and most recently 60 years of conducting. See also Shanghai City Symphonic Orchestra References External links Brief Biop, with more on Cao Peng's training in Moscow, 1955 - 1961 (Chinese) Biography of conductor Cao Peng, and much more available on the website 1925 births Living people Chinese conductors (music) People's Republic of China musicians Musicians from Wuxi 21st-century conductors (music)