More than 260 youngsters from 24 countries and regions applied; the competition was narrowed during the first round of selection to 162 entrants from 22 countries.

Sixty-six of the competitors are Chinese, including one from Hong Kong and four from Taiwan.

Twenty-eight renowned musicians - including Renate Ronnefeld, from Switzerland; Vladislav Chernushenko and Maxim Fedotov, Russia; Arie Vardi, Germany; and Zhou Guangren, Lin Yaoji and Yu Lina, China - will be the adjudicators.

Xiamen-born pianist Yin Chenzong chairs the jury.

Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra, the local symphony orchestra, will accompany the contestants. The orchestra will be conducted by Zhen Xiaoyin, one of China's most renowned conductors and the orchestra's artistic director.

The International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians is the major independent music competition in the world for young (under 16) pianists, violinists and cellists.

Since the first competition, in Moscow in 1992, the event has been held in different countries.

Though young Chinese musicians have been successful at the competitions, this year marks the first time China has hosted the event.

(China Daily October 25, 2002)