The 22nd Macao Youth Music Competition (MYMC) will take place between May 1 and May 9. In the competition, 730 candidates will contend for 54 events. In order to provide more opportunities for the competitors to learn from their strong points and shortcomings, the Cultural Institute will organize lectures after each competition for the judges to present their comments to the competitors. This year’s MYMC will include events such as string instruments, wind instruments, percussion instruments, Chinese instruments and vocal. Since there are a 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. All competitors must arrive 20 minutes before the competition begins. Anyone failing to arrive at the appointed time will lose their right to compete. The annual Macao Youth Music Competition is aimed at advancing local musical arts and enhancing the training and performance abilities of local teenagers. In the course of its twenty-one-year history, the competition has given thousands of youth people the opportunity to gain precious stage experience, and thus has played a vital role in the improvement of the musical skills of Macao’s youth. This year, the Institute will continue to give out the “Cultural Institute” Prize and the Virtuosity Prize. The “Cultural Institute” Prize is a MOP$100,000 scholarship awarded to a winning participant whose performance the judges consider to have been truly outstanding. The scholarship may be used to attend the Beijing Conservatory of Music or the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. The Virtuosity Prize is a MOP$30,000 scholarship awarded to one or more winning participants under the age of 18 whom the judges feel most deserving of the award. The scholarship is to be used to attend short-term music programmes offered outside of Macao. Moreover, a “Concert of the Winners” of the 22nd MYMC will take place on May 23, 2004, at 8:00 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Macao Polytechnic Institute. A number of “Merit Award” winning competitors will be invited to perform. Tickets can be bought during the competitions (MOP$20 each), or contact Ms. Cheang at 7993127. The 22nd MYMC is sponsored by: The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Wa Tai Combustion Company Limited, The Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, The University of Macau, The Macao Water Supply Company limited (Macao Water), The Westin Hotels & Resorts Hotel Ritz, etc The 22nd MYMC’s schedule is now posted onto the Cultural Institute’s website: www.icm.gov.mo. All are welcome to attend the competition. Entrance is free. For more information, please telephone 7993219 or 7993118.