Harbin hosting first-ever WFIMC General Assembly in China
The 69th World Federation of International Music Competitions General Assembly opens on Thursday in Harbin, Heilongjiang province.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
A major global music organization is holding a key meeting in Harbin, the first time it is being held in a Chinese city.
The 69th World Federation of International Music Competitions General Assembly opened on Thursday in Harbin, Heilongjiang province. Founded in 1957 in Geneva, Switzerland, the WFIMC is a member of the International Music Council, an NGO official partner of UNESCO. It is a global network of internationally recognized organizations dedicated to identifying the most promising young talent in music.
The assembly is organized by the WFIMC, co-hosted by the Harbin Performing Arts Film and Television Group and the Schoenfeld International Music Society, with support from Harbin governmental departments.
In his speech at the opening ceremony, Wang Bo, vice-mayor of Harbin, highlighted the city's deep-rooted musical legacy, and pointed out that the city is home to China's first symphony concert, first music school, and first symphony orchestra. The emphasis on music continues to this day, as the city designated Aug 6 as its annual music day.
"This year, Harbin became the first city in China to host the WFIMC General Assembly, marking a milestone in the journey of cooperation between the two sides," Wang said.
President of WFIMC Peter Paul Kainrath expressed his hope that this year's assembly will open up collaboration opportunities between the federation and Chinese cultural organizations, encouraging the federation's members to engage in discussions and gain new insights during the event.
Xue Suli, president of the Schoenfeld International Music Society, said that in 2014, the Schoenfeld International String Competition was launched in Harbin, and it has since grown into a bridge between Eastern and Western music cultures. He said that the assembly is a recognition of Harbin's music scene and the string competition, and expressed his hope for deeper collaboration and global musical exchange.
The opening ceremony is followed by panel discussions, centered on themes such as international musical exchanges, classical music development in China, and online promotion strategies, round tables, and the opening concert of Harbin Summer Music Festival at the Harbin Grand Theater.