Macau is a Special Administrative Region of the China. It was formerly a colony of Portugal, which left a legacy of linguistic and other cultural elements. The music is called Macanese music, a mixture of Chinese and Portuguese music. The Musical institutions in the city include the Macau Orchestra,the Macau Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Macau 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.