The international flavor of China's capital was a perfect fit for a Russian conductor eager to bring people together through music, China Daily reports.

Music had Maria Nauen in its thrall from the first note. She was 4 years old when she was first introduced to piano. Then at age 11, she took the stage with a violin in front of 2,000 people to play the first movement of a Wieniawski violin concerto, and fell in love with performing.

The Russian native had no idea her passion would eventually find her in Beijing, and she never could have predicted she would one day be living here. Yet eight years after arriving, she sits in a capital cafe sipping coffee and explaining in a Russian-German accent how she "feels absolutely at home".

Her blue eyes shift away from the coffee table, dancing as they take in the towering buildings surrounding her. Her lips curve and split into a perfect smile.

She might be lost for a moment thinking about the progress of the orchestra she created seven years ago, the first of its kind in the city. Or maybe it's the thought of the 50 kids who study music with her privately each week, giving her own life new depth. Either way, she smiles because of music.

Her first year in China was one of culture shock, as she adapted to her new way of life.

"The speed of the city is very fast, and new things are happening every day," she says. "You have to accept it, and you have to go deeper to its roots to understand it."

She explored the streets and was met with welcoming faces. Before long, she uncovered the "beautiful night life, beautiful cultural life, beautiful historical life" and all the opportunities in between.

However, orchestra music was not one of them.

"A symphony orchestra in China is a little bit complicated," she says. "You cannot get in without knowing somebody."

This was crippling creative expression, she thought.

"I met a lot of people in love with music who were longing for an experience they had in their native countries," Nauen says. "In Europe, in little towns, there are two, three, four local orchestras where people can come after work and express themselves. In China, nothing like this existed."

So she decided to create it, founding the Beijing International Chamber Orchestra in 2007.

The orchestra - "my baby" as she refers to it - includes professional musicians and amateurs alike. Its members range from 12 to 68 years old and hail from over 20 countries. Since its inception, the orchestra has grown from 15 to 75 members, welcoming Chinese, Japanese, Canadians, Australians and anyone else passionate about the cause.

"They are all united, not only by music but also by the idea of being an international community," Nauen says. "People accept and embrace each other in the orchestra." Nauen recalls past international conflicts, when she wondered how the multicultural group would respond.

"I didn't see any negative feelings toward anybody," she says. "They were even discussing what was happening and thinking of possible solutions for the problems." Nauen says members of the orchestra come and go but attitudes never change.

"New members are met with warmth and kindness," she says. "We see people - not passports."

Besides performing, Nauen's other great passion is teaching. She currently gives private music classes at the German embassy school in the capital. Nauen says she cannot decide whether she prefers teaching or performing, but she admits teaching is more difficult.

"Being a performer is easier because you are just responsible for yourself," she says. "When you are teaching, you are responsible for somebody's life."

She repeats to every one of her students what a teacher once told her: "If you give up now, you will make it a habit in your life, and every time something difficult happens in your life, you will give up. By the end of your life you will be nothing because you gave up every time."

Nauen never gave up on music, which has opened doors to many opportunities and offered glimpses into different worlds.

And the influence of her orchestra is brought to life during a Sunday afternoon performance and charity fundraiser, as one by one the musicians from all over the world take their seats beside one another.

Nauen, her long mane of blonde hair flowing behind her, follows them and takes center stage as conductor. Weaving her hands gently through the air, she summons each instrument to sing a universal language, and it speaks to the soul until the very last note.

Kurt Nagl contributed to this story.

Contact the writer at sundayed@chinadaily.com.cn

Maria Nauen conducts the Beijing International Chamber Orchestra during a performance at the Canadian International School of Beijing. Feng Yongbin / China Daily

Nauen says joining a symphony orchestra in China is a little bit complicated. Provided to China Daily

(China Daily 06/22/2014 page5)