In 1986, when Su Nan-cheng was mayor of Kaohsiung, he was eager to set up a world-class orchestra to raise the image of the city, and he sought out Mazer to head it up, offering him substantial pay and complete authority as music director.
民國七十五年間蘇南成出任高雄市長，極欲建立一支國際水準的樂團，以提昇大都會形象，於是他找上了梅哲，許以優渥的待遇，以及對樂團的全權指揮調度權。