Inspired by the top-caliber concerts he frequently attended, he began "dreaming big" of one day conducting his own professional orchestra and choir to similar levels of excellence. He thinks Shanghai's arts infrastructure — with its state-of-the-art venues, lighting and technology — seems to make anything possible.

"You just need to imagine it, and then figure out how to make it possible," he says.

The seeds of ambition were sown. But when job offers came in from back home as he completed his thesis, he needed to take a pivotal decision — return to the comforts of Costa Rica or take a risk to pursue his musical vision in Shanghai.

Against the odds, the conductor chose the road less traveled.

"I knew I needed to do something here, either find a job or perhaps establish my own company," he recounts.

He then went to the immigration office to ask about a visa to see if there was an option that allowed him to stay in China. The officer suggested an entrepreneurship visa.

With no business experience, he had to quickly acquire the skills to craft a company plan that could qualify him for an entrepreneurship visa. "What is a business plan? I had no idea," he says, adding that he had to look it up online.

Researching how to tailor the concept for the performing arts industry, he proposed establishing both a professional choir and even an orchestra.

"There are a lot of people who want to attend high-level concerts but there are not enough orchestras here in Shanghai for that purpose. Analyzing this kind of detail, we decided to start this company and bring joy to and inspire people," he says.