The Cultural Institute, under the auspices of Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, annually organises the Macao Young Musicians’ Contest. This initiative, of great prestige, has as its main objective the promotion of the city’s musical life and, to also stimulate the students of Chinese and Western instruments to present the results of the work they have carried out over the year with their music teachers. The increase in the quality of the teaching and the musical interpretation of Macao’s young people is more than evident; the same young people who have had the possibility to perform on stage over the last 20 years. As the result of a retrospective analysis it was decided to introduce some alterations that would permit wider public dissemination of each of the different modalities. Thus, the 2003 MYMC will have new characteristics in terms of strategy, structure and limits: Since the number of piano students is much greater than those of other instruments the competition will be carried out bi-annually – in 2003 the contest will be exclusively dedicated to the piano; in 2004 the competition involving the other instruments will take place, and so on. Professors of international renown from the Music Conservatory of China will be invited to be members of the jury, which will bring the level in Macao up to that of the rest of the world, through the increase in the level of standards demanded of the competitors. The number of members of the jury for some categories will be increased by 2 or 3. In March and April, piano symposiums and masterclasses with experts from Hong Kong will be held. The tests will be held in May, in the auditorium of the Macao Polytechnic Institute, so that they do not coincide with those of the Royal Schools of Music in the United Kingdom (July and August), as well as the final exams of the local schools (the second half of June), which will allow the students to have greater concentration levels, and thus, better results. The “Cultural Institute” Prize and the Virtuosity Prize, which provide an opportunity for young local musicians to improve abroad, will continue. The candidates can deal with the application formalities in the Conservatory of Macao, located at Avenida Horta e Costa No. 16, from 17th to 24th March (except Sunday), from 9.30 am to 6.00 pm. The repertoire and the rules are available from 8th February, from the website: www.icm.gov.mo and from the referred to place of application. An Opinion Consultation Mechanism regarding the Macao Young Musicians’ Contest was created, in order to gather the opinion of teachers, legal guardians and students. Those interested can send their opinions in writing to the head office of the Cultural Institute (Coordinating Department of the Macao Young Musicians’ Contest), by fax to 523483, or by e-mail: cjmm@icm.gov.mo, or even through an interview with Mr. Hui, an employee, tel. 5040622.