Shanghai Philharmonic Chorus was formed in 1990 from the earlier Shanghai Vocal Music Lovers Association Chorus. It now has a membership of a hundred singers, with an average age of 28, drawn from all walks of life. Since its foundation the Chorus has taken an active part in public performance in the concert hall and in opera and ballet. It has won national awards in Beijing, where it has appeared a number of times to considerable acclaim. Under the artistic direction of Cao Ding it has reached a high level of competence and won praise with audiences at home and with visiting musicians from abroad.