The 22nd Macao Youth Music Competition (MYMC) was successfully kicked-off last Saturday. After a series of competitions between contestants, winners for events in the first two days were announced.

The first event in the competition was the Chamber Music for Wind Instruments held in the Macao Polytechnic Institute. Out of 19 groups of contestants, the group of Leong Anmie, Kou Pui I, Leung Pui Kam and Che Wai Teng won the first prize with 87 points. The two second prizes in this category go to the group of Loi Hon Cheong, Tiago Luis Chan, Calvino Kou, and U Ion Nam, and the group of Tang Hoi Lon, Ng Mei San, Ng Iun Kuan, and Leong Io.

In the Violin and Piano Sonata category, the group Hong Iat U and Wong Hoi Ian won the first prize with 87 points. However, since no other groups reached the standard of 84 points, there were no second or third prizes given in this category. In the category of Other Plucked-string Solos, 黃艷凌 (Romanization not known) won first place with 91 points; the second prize goes to Cheong Sin Hong with 88 points and the third prize goes to Wong Sok Pan.

This year, the number of candidates for Classical Guitar Solo category doubled compared to the last MYMC. Pun Chi Man won the first prize with 90 points; the second prize goes to Mondass Velautham and the third prize goes to Choi Wai Hou. Liu Xin Yu, a judge in the competition, said that most of the contestants have very good musical sense.

For the category of Tuba Solo, Wu Chi Wai won the champion of Group A (Beginner Level) with 88 points and Un Ion Sam won the first prize of Group C (Advanced Level). There are no winners in the Oboe Solo Group A (Beginner Level). Leung Pui Kam won the first prize in the Bassoon Solo category.

There were fifteen contestants in the Recorder Solo category. Pong Chon Iok won the first place with 90 points; the second prize and the third prize go to Tang Hoi Lon and Cheong Sio Pang, respectively with only one point difference between them.

Out of the nine groups in the String, Wind and Percussion Ensemble category, Leong Pui Ka’s group won the first prize; Cheong Cheng Peng’s group won the second prize and Hoi Lei Lei’s group won the third prize.

Within the Chinese Instruments, all groups within the Chamber Music for Wind, Plucked-String, Bowed-String, and Percussion Instruments category are unique and distinctive. The group of Sio Ian Son, Choi Chan Wa, Leong Peng Ieng and Sio Meng Lai won first prize with 90 points while the group of Chu Mio Ieng, and Ip Hoi Ieng won the second prize. Third prize goes to the group of Wong Choi Si and Tang Chong Ian.

The Wind, Plucked-String, Bowed-String and Percussion Ensemble category of the Chinese Instruments requires great cooperation between the group members. Cheong Veng Va’s group won first prize with 86 points. Since the contestants of the categories of Trumpet Solo Group A (Beginner Level), Group C (Advanced Level), and Chamber Music for String Instruments did not reach the required standard, there are no winners in these categories.

In the Chamber Music with Piano category, the group of Wu Iek Teng, Wu Iek Fei, and Chong Weng Man won the first prize. Second prize goes to the group of Ma Man Cheong, Cheang On Seng, and Raimundo Chung; the third prize goes to the group of Che Wai Si, Che Wai Teng, and Leong Chon Hang.

The first prize of the Chamber Music for Percussion category goes to the group of Wong Sok I and the second prize goes to the group of Hoi Lei Lei. There is no winner in the third prize for this category, also no winners for the first prize, second prize and third prize of the Chamber Music for Recorders category.

Of the fifteen contestants in the Yangqin Solo category, Ng Cheng U won the champion in Group A (Beginning Level) with 90 points. There are no winners in second and third prizes. There were only two contestants in Group B (Intermediate Level). Choi Son Ieng won the first prize with 86 points while Lau Kit Man received a certificate of competence. For Group C (Advanced Level), Ip Hoi Ieng won first place with 92 points; the second prize goes to Chan Man Wa and the third prize goes to Chu Mio Ieng.

The 22nd MYMC is organized by the Cultural Institute and has generated great response. Due to the large number of participants, the Institute has prepared three venues for the competition, which include the auditorium of the Macao Polytechnic Institute, auditorium of the Macao Museum, and the small auditorium of the Macao Cultural Centre. The competition will continue until May 9. All are welcome to attend the competition. Entrance is free. The schedule for the competition is now posted on the Cultural Institute’s website: www.icm.gov.mo. For more information, please telephone 7993219 or 7993118.