Organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S. A. R. Government, the 23rd Macao Youth Music Competition (MYMC) will begin this Saturday (June 25). Different levels of competitions will take place for 11 days in the Macao Polytechnic Institute. MYMC aims at encouraging local musical development, enhancing artistic knowledge and raising the performance levels of Macao’s young musicians. Members of the jury include specialists from Hong Kong, Mainland China and America.

Since there are numerous piano lovers in Macao, this year's MYMC includes only piano events – with a total of 858 candidates contending for 21 events.

Winners of each event will be invited to participate in “Special Prize and Concert Performers Contest” to contend for the “Cultural Affairs Bureau Prize”, the “Virtuosity Prize”, and the “Macao Polytechnic Institute Prize”. The “Cultural Affairs Bureau Prize” is a MOP$100,000 scholarship for attending courses in Beijing Conservatory of Music, Shanghai Conservatory of Music or other Institute. The “Virtuosity Prize”, sponsored by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, is a MOP$30,000 scholarship awarded to the winning participant under the age of 18 for attending music courses in The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. In addition, the “Macao Polytechnic Institute Prize”, a newly added prize, awards winner with tuition fee waived for the first year in taking the Higher Diploma in Music (Educational) in the Macao Polytechnic Institute.

Excellent participants are invited to participate and perform in the “Prize Awarding Ceremony and Concert of the Winners”. Tickets priced at MOP$20 are available at the Macao Polytechnic Institute and Tap Seac Gallery from June 25. In addition, winners of the piano concerto will be invited to the “Flourishing Art” concert organized by the Macao Orchestra on July 22 at 8pm in the Macao Tower Auditorium. Tickets are now available at Kong Seng ticketing outlet and are priced at MOP$120 and $60. The 23rd MYMC is sponsored by: The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Macao Polytechnic Institute, University of Macau, Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, Wa Tai Combustion Company Limited, The Macao Water Supply Company Limited (Macao Water), Hotel Ritz and The Westin Hotels & Resorts.

Original versions of music notations must be used during the competition. Copy versions of music notations are against the law and participants will be disqualified for the competition. All participants need to sign in at the competition venue with their Macau SAR Resident Identity Card 20 minutes before the beginning of the performance. Failure to do this shall be regarded as an automatic forfeiture of a participant’s right to compete.

The 23rd MYMC includes only piano events. Entrance is free. All are welcome to attend the competition. Lectures will be organized after each competition for the judges to present their comments to the competitors. The 23rd MYMC’s schedule is now posted onto the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s website: www.icm.gov.mo. For more information, please telephone 3996621 or 3996620.