Competing for music's top spot

On April 16, the China preliminary round of the 11th International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians was announced by Yu Feng, president of the Central Conservatory of Music. The Beijing conservatory is a co-organizer of the competition.

As the largest international competition for cellists, violinists and pianists aged 17 years old and younger, the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians was launched in 1992 and is affiliated to the International Tchaikovsky Competition. It has attracted more than 1,200 participants from 37 countries.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Yu says Chinese competitors sent in their applications from September and the first round was judged online in April. The second round of the competition will select the first, second and third prize winners of each category, and the winners will give performances in Chengdu from Saturday to May 5. They will also receive master classes from veteran Chinese musicians.

"The International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians is held in different countries over the years, and gives young musicians from around the world a unique opportunity to participate in this prestigious contest. This year, it will come to Chengdu," Yu says.

Pianist Lang Lang won the first prize when he was 13 years old at the Tchaikovsky International Young Musicians Competition held in Japan. In 2002, pianist Zhang Haochen won the first prize in the same competition when he was 12 years old.

"The competition is the most prestigious international youth contest in the world. Many young musicians began their professional careers after winning this competition," Yu says.

To date, more than 350 young musicians from 23 countries have applied to participate in the 11th International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians. According to competition rules, no more than 60 participants in each category will be allowed to participate in the competition.

Violinist Lyu Siqing, pianist Dan Zhaoyi and cellist Namar will serve as the heads of judges for each category.

Along with his band members of Major Music－cellist Qin Liwei and pianist Sun Yingdi, Lyu will perform at the opening concert on Saturday in Chengdu. As Qin is in Singapore, he will perform with Lyu and Sun online. Namisa Sun, a 20-year-old cellist who was the second prize winner of the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians in 2017, will also perform at the concert.

"Besides performing music from the great Russian composer Tchaikovsky, the young competitors are required to play music pieces from different eras and with different styles. Their technical and artistic levels will be judged," Lyu says.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Major Music, which was co-founded by Lyu. "It's crucial for young musicians to perform chamber music and the quality will also be judged during the competition," he adds.

The first, second and third prize winners will perform in concerts with the symphony orchestra of the Central Conservatory of Music under the baton of conductor Chen Lin. Lyu says this will allow the young musicians to prepare and perform complicated repertoires, and "lay the foundation for their future professional mastery".

"Like athletes looking forward to the Olympic Games, young musicians look forward to this competition," says Dan, renowned pianist and music educator. "It's also a great opportunity for young musicians to communicate and learn from one another."