Zhuhai, the City of Romance, hand in hand with Salzburg, the City of Music, gave the audience a magnificent feast of classic music. After 12 days of competing, the closing ceremony of the 1st Zhuhai International Mozart Competition for Young Musicians and winners’ concert was held in Zhuhai Huafa & CPAA Grand Theatre on September 26th, marking the complete success of the world-class classical music event.
The leaders and guests who attended the closing ceremony and prize-winners’ concert include: Li Jia, Member of Standing Committee of CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and the Secretary of Zhuhai CPC Municipal Committee; Qian Fangli, Chairman of Zhuhai Municipal People’s Political Consultative Committee; Ye Xiaogang, President of Chinese Musician Association; Dong Junxin, Vice-chairman of China International Cultural Association; Gu Minqiang, Associate Counsel of Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture; Deng Qunfang, Vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of Zhuhai People’s Congress; Long Guangyan, Vice-mayor of Zhuhai Municipal Government; Zhou Guangren, Honorary Member of Zhuhai International Mozart Competition for Young Musicians, celebrated pianist and educationist; Chen Zuohuang, Honorary Member of Zhuhai International Mozart Competition for Young Musicians, and renowned conductor; 18 jurors of the competition; and officials from Austria Embassy to China, foreign consulates-general in Guangzhou, Austrian Eurasian Pacific Universities League, Mozart Foundation, and international music competition foundation.
Zhuhai International Mozart Competition for Young Musicians is held every two years, sponsored by Zhuhai Municipal Government and Salzburg Mozart University of Music and Performing Arts, Austria, organised by Zhuhai Huafa Group, and supported by Chinese Musician Association, China International Cultural Association, and the Embassy of Austria to China. The honorary president of the competition is Maestro Zubin Mehta. The jury team is composed of 18 world-famous musicians and educators who are active on world music stage. The final round of the competition was accompanied by the leading ensemble Salzburg Chamber Soloists. The competition is the only international competition in China that collaborates with a top conservatory of music in the world. It puts emphasis on not only the virtuosity of young musicians, but also their understanding and interpretation of the style of classical music.
The 1st Zhuhai International Mozart Competition for Young Musicians was inaugurated on September 13th 2015 in Zhuhai, with two instrument categories being the piano and the violin. The young musicians were divided into 3 groups according to their ages: Group A (14 and under), Group B (15 to 17), Group C (18 to 23). The competition lasted 12 days, beginning with the preliminary round of Violin A group on September 14th, ending with the final round of Piano C Group on September 25th. More than 100 young musicians from 23 countries and regions participated in the competition. After the intense competition of the first, second and final rounds, 24 prize-winners finally came to the fore. During the competition, the organising committee also introduced a series of activities, such as master classes, Mozart’s Music into the Classroom, and the Mozart Exhibition, offering a huge feast for the public.
On behalf of the violin jury committee, its chairman Paul Roczek gave a speech on the closing ceremony, expressing his hearty gratitude to the efforts made by the organising committee. He recognized the 1st Zhuhai International Mozart Competition for Young Musicians as a huge success, drawing much attention from international community. He hoped Zhuhai would become an important landmark of international music competition for young musicians, and a familiar place to excellent young musicians through holding the competition.
比赛评委主席保罗·罗切克致辞
Ye Xiaogang extended warm congratulations to the success of the competition on behalf of Chinese Musicians Association. In his speech, he said, Zhuhai was the cradle of Chinese marine civilization, the communicating corridor between Chinese and Western Culture in modern times, and the forefront of the reform and opening-up. This beautiful and romantic coastal city, with its inclusive and open spirit, was the forerunner in exchange between China and the west. And the 1st Zhuhai International Mozart Competition for Young Musicians was the new fruit of its cultural tradition to see the world and its promotion of culture construction. The competition was another bridge between China and the West, a good platform for young musicians to go global, and a grand event to show China’s overall power. It made a great contribution to develop Chinese arts and spread China’s spirit and value.
中国音乐家协会主席叶小钢致辞
On the award ceremony, Paul Roczek and Klaus Kaufmann, the chairman of piano jury committee, with the other 16 jury members, awarded prizes to the 24 winners. Later, the prize-winner concert was held, 6 first-prize winners from each group respectively gave solo and concerto performances, including Daniil Bulayev from Violin Group A, Ziyu He from Violin Group B, Huruna Shiroyama from Violin Group C, Xiaoxuan Li from Piano Group A, Mao Fujita from Piano Group B, and Gun Woo Hwang from Piano Group C. The Salzburg Chamber Soloists played The Overture of La Clemeza di Tito by Mozart, and the well-known Chinese piece A Beautiful Night, marking the end of the competition.
赛事评委和获奖选手
钢琴C组第一名Gun Woo Hwang，韩国，18岁
小提琴组、钢琴组第一名获奖选手
In the morning of September 26th, the competition organising committee held a post-competition press conference briefing the overall situation of the competition. Later, it held a music culture forum on the theme of Dialogue between City and Music. Domestic and foreign celebrities, including the president of Chinese Musician Association Ye Xiaogang, the celebrated conductor Chen Zuohuang, counselor of Austrian Embassy China Gudrun Hardiman-Pollross, the president of International Music Competition Foundation Gustav Alink, discussed issues such as the influence of classical music to the city.
