Shanghai being the cradle of classical music in China, saw many Chinese musicians embarking their international career from here, Yu said before the concert.

"At SSO, we care very much about the young musicians. They are the real future," he said. The best way to support these emerging talents, he believed, was to offer them the opportunity to perform at important occasions such as the Shanghai New Year's Concert. These young musicians "are as brilliant as any established artists," Yu said.