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Cultural Philanthropy · Music Education · International Partnerships
Michael Sowa · Former Foundation Board Member & Authorized Signatory
Foundation board member
Music education & artistic development
Cultural exchange & international partnerships
Board appointment
Institutions, ensembles & youth initiatives
Shared experiences.
Lasting connections.
Artistic ambition has a wider impact when people have opportunities to take part. In his work with the On the Culture of Harmony Foundation, Michael Sowa connected cultural philanthropy, music education and international partnerships with a belief in music’s ability to bring people into conversation.
Founded by Professor Gordon Ge Wang, the Salzburg-based foundation supported cultural institutions, artists and initiatives dedicated to understanding among peoples through culture. Sowa’s contribution brought together foundation governance, strategic development and community engagement: supporting young musicians, building relationships across cultural settings and creating a practical basis for shared projects.
From 2019, he served on the foundation board and held commercial power of attorney (Prokura) at its wholly owned Harmony World Organization GmbH.
Building the capacity to deliver
Working with a strong team of lawyers and tax advisors, Sowa helped establish an organizational framework combining the foundation and its wholly owned company. This provided the legal, financial and operational basis for pursuing the cultural mission, supporting partners and developing projects over time.
Across borders.
Through relationships.
International cultural exchange begins with relationships: understanding how others work, recognizing shared interests and finding the confidence to create something together. Sowa participated in several delegations to China, meeting cultural partners, visiting concert halls and discussing ideas for cooperation.
Press conferences and public appearances gave these encounters visibility. The deeper work took place in conversations about artists, audiences, education and the projects that could connect them. Reciprocal visits by Chinese partners to Salzburg sustained this dialogue.
A ceremonial signing in Hong Kong marked a further step in building a shared framework for cooperation. Discussions and declarations of intent with the National China Investment Group in Beijing and the Hong Kong Institute for Promotion of Chinese Culture opened paths for developing cultural partnerships.
Making cooperation possible
Sowa’s role connected representation with practical coordination: bringing people together, translating shared interests into project ideas and working through the organizational requirements behind collaboration. The aim was to create relationships in which cultural exchange could grow through repeated encounters and joint activity.
Artistic development.
Wider participation.
Creating opportunities for young musicians
The foundation supported a range of initiatives connecting music education, artistic development and cultural participation. Among them were Bella Musica – Young Ambassadors of the European Mozart Ways, the European orchestral project of the Salzburg Youth Symphony Orchestra, and youth projects supported through the Friends of the Mozarteum Orchestra.
Representing the foundation, Sowa worked with partners across Salzburg’s cultural and educational community. He presented the Bella Musica support to Rector Prof. Elisabeth Gutjahr and Stefan David Hummel at Universität Mozarteum and brought experience from his longstanding board role with the Friends of the Mozarteum Orchestra.
From foundation support to a Rotary partnership
The relationship established through the foundation’s support for Bella Musica subsequently developed into a Rotary partnership. The ensemble now serves as Rotary Ambassadors for District 1920, connecting young musicians with Rotary’s commitment to friendship, service and international understanding.
Bella Musica · Rotary Ambassadors, Universität Mozarteum
A broad network of cultural support
Further supported institutions and projects included the Salzburger Chorknaben und Chormädchen at Musikum Salzburg, the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, initiatives associated with the Salzburger Kulturvereinigung and the Vienna Philharmonic Generations Chinese New Year concert at Vienna’s Musikverein.
The foundation also supported the Spanish Riding School through a sponsorship at the Piber Lipizzaner Stud, extending its cultural philanthropy to the preservation of a living artistic tradition.
The Harmony Gala at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens brought the foundation’s international cultural relationships into a public performance setting. Together, these initiatives connected local artistic development with a wider network of cultural cooperation.
A shared language.
An open conversation.
“Music alone cannot bring peace, but it can help move efforts toward it a long way forward. It is a language everyone can understand — one that builds bridges, crosses national borders and brings people from different communities together.”
Michael Sowa · On cultural understanding through music
Audience development, access and innovation
Within the foundation’s cultural exchange work, Sowa connected artistic excellence with audience development, music education and community engagement. New concert formats, digital media and marketing formed part of an integrated approach to reaching younger audiences in China and making European classical music more accessible.
Innovation meant considering how a cultural experience could become relevant to someone encountering it for the first time. Partnership discussions and program development connected artistic ideas with the needs of audiences, educators and cultural venues. The aim was to create opportunities for participation while supporting the quality of the artistic experience.
“Classical music can take us into a state in which we forget everyday life, yet at the same time experience life more deeply. For me, only music makes that possible.”
Michael Sowa · On the experience of music
Selected sources
- Universität Mozarteum · Bella Musica funding announcement · December 16, 2019.
- MeinBezirk · Gordon Wang and the Culture of Harmony · June 24, 2019
- OTS · Book presentation at the University of Salzburg · June 17, 2019
- Salzburger Kulturvereinigung · Foundation partnership
- Salzburgwiki · On the Culture of Harmony Foundation
On the Culture of Harmony Foundation
Former foundation board member from 2019.
Harmony World Organization GmbH
Former authorized signatory (Prokurist) from 2019. The company was wholly owned by the foundation.