Music of Macau

The music of Macau is a mixture of Cantonese and Portuguese music, formed by its proximity and governance under China and the legacy of the Portuguese colonial period. The musical institutions in the city include the Macao Orchestra, the Macau Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Macao Conservatory, which has played an important role in music education in the area since its foundation in 1991. The Macao International Music Festival is an important annual event. Xian Xinghai, a very influential Chinese composer, was born in Macau.