"I think the anthem is exceptionally beautiful, and it has a sense of solemnity to it. The timbres of woodwind instruments are able to offset those of the brass instruments harmoniously," Cai says.

"The pressure was there, but participating in the opening ceremony made me more proud than stressed."

The ensemble has opened up new career opportunities for the students, with examples of previous members studying music performance at university, and current members, such as Haoyu, with an ambition to become a professional musician, but the ensemble is not about cultivating professionals.

"What's important is to allow the children to learn teamwork, acquire a hobby and skill, and build a confident and optimistic mindset. These will influence them greatly, no matter what profession they enter," Zhou says.

"I can see that having performed at the opening ceremony, the confidence of the children has greatly improved. I believe that, in the future, whatever obstacles they might encounter, they will be able to cope with them," she adds.

Contact the writer at chengyuezhu@chinadaily.com.cn