The 22nd Macao Youth Music Competition has successfully finalized. This year’s competition has improved in every aspect – a higher level of contestants and judges, a diversity of musical instruments, improved regulations, more pre-competition training and better arrangement in venues, etc. These improvements have not only made the competition more systematic, but have also provided a chance for the contestants to display their talents and to learn from each other. A “Concert of the Winners” will be held in the Auditorium of the Macao Polytechnic Institute on May 23 to provide the winners with more chances to perform onstage

Within the nine-day long competition, 730 people have competed in 54 categories. Last year, the Cultural Institute, after consulting opinions from different communities, has decided to separate the popular piano competition from other categories such as the string instruments, Chinese instruments and wind instruments competitions, and to hold them separately in alternating years. And the Institute will give out the “Cultural Institute” Prize (MOP$100,000) and the Virtuosity Prize (MOP$30,000) every year to provide the winners with the opportunity to pursue further studies in China or Hong Kong.

In the past competitions, the “Cultural Institute” Prize and the Virtuosity Prize has supported many local teenagers in furthering their studies in music. For example, the 11 year-old Sou Man Ieong, winner of the Guzheng competition in 2001, has received professional training in Beijing and Shanghai.

The jury, which is composed of fifteen professionals from China and Hong Kong, is now concentrating on grading the winners and the two prizes will be announced in the “Concert of the Winners”. Judges from China indicated that Macao has outstanding students in areas such as flute, saxophone and tuba. They also said that some of the students have good potential in Chinese instruments and, if well trained, will surely become great musicians.

There were a large number of contestants this year. In order to enhance efficiency, the Institute has, other than increasing manpower, rented venues from the Macao Polytechnic Institute, the Macao Museum and the Macao Cultural Centre to carry out different competitions simultaneously. Other than that, the Institute has invited professionals from abroad to host 16 music workshops to provide the contestants with more learning opportunities. Some of the judges suggested the Institute to organize one-week intensive courses for the contestants to have a better understanding of the competition’s musical scores.

Discussions held after the competitions were useful for the contestants to learn from the judges and to exchange their ideas with each other. The judges pointed out that the music workshops and discussions held before and after the competitions were useful for the contestants to identify their strong points and shortcomings. They also indicated that there are many opportunities for music careers in Macao.

The judges said that the level of this year’s contestants has increased and the overall performance is good. Although some of them are quite young, they have good musical sense and good musical foundations.

Outstanding winners will be invited to perform in the “Concert of the Winners” which will take place at 20:00 on May 23 in the Auditorium of the Macao Polytechnic Institute. Please contact Ms. Cheang at 7993127 for tickets (MOP$20 each). The result of the competition is now posted on the Cultural Institute’s website: www.icm.gov.mo.