The last category of the 23^rd Macao Youth Music Competition (MYMC) completed in the Macao Polytechnic Institute on July 4 (Monday). Winners were announced and the 10-day long competition finalized.

In the piano concerto competition, most contestants performed confidently with their own chosen pieces. After a series of intense competition held in the morning and in the afternoon, Fong Chio and Chan Sok Leng, with less than one point’s difference, won the first prize and the second prize respectively. Both Lau Pui Kei and Chu Weng Kit won the third prize.

For piano Group F (Level 6) competition, Silvia de Almeida, who performed with rich emotions, won the third prize. The excellent performances of Lei Man Lai and Ip Chak Lam received applause from the audience and both of them received the second prize. Leong U Kei, who performed calmly and confidently and could master the song well, won the recognition of the judges and received the first prize with 91 points.

The  23^rd Macao Youth Music Competition finalized with winners of the piano Group F (Level 6) competition announced. “Special Prize and Concert Performers Contest” was held in the evening. Special prizes include: the “Cultural Affairs Bureau Prize”, which is a MOP$100,000 scholarship for attending courses in overseas Institutes. The “Virtuosity Prize”, sponsored by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, is a MOP$30,000 scholarship awarded to a winner under the age of 18. The “Macao Polytechnic Institute Prize” awards its winner with tuition fee waived for the first year in taking the Higher Diploma in Music (Educational) in the Macao Polytechnic Institute.

The judges expressed their appreciation towards the contestants’ courage and standard of performance. Some of them pointed out that it is quite surprising to see so many piano learners in such a small city like Macao. Renowned American pianist Erika Nickrenz believed that learning piano is good for developing children's intelligence and is a good method of art education. Su Pin from Shanghai Conservatory of Music expressed his appreciation for contestants' enthusiasm. He believes that regular practice and public performance could help in reducing anxiety. Renowned pianist Eleanor Wong from the Hong Kong Pianist Association used her own learning experience as an example, advised parents to guide their children to first appreciate music and avoid practice merely for examination that might give rise to resentment.

Champions of the 21 categories strove hard for the special prizes. Results will be announced at the “Prize Awarding Ceremony and Concert of the Winners”, which will be held on July 30 at 8pm in the Macao Polytechnic Institute. Tickets priced at MOP$20.00 are available at the Tap Seac Gallery (No. 95, Avenida Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida, 10am to 7pm). For more information, please visit the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s website: www.icm.gov.mo, or telephone 3996621 or 3996620.