New Talent, New Pathways: 2024 Khachaturian International Youth Competition Concludes

The 2024 Khachaturian International Youth Competition concluded on November 10 at the China National Opera House after global preliminary rounds and three stages of competition in Beijing.

More than 300 outstanding young musicians from around the world took part in the 10-day event, presenting performances in piano, violin, and cello and offering audiences a vivid view of emerging international talent.

At the closing concert, Sergey Smbatyan, Music Director of the Khachaturian International Competition, conducted the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra with prizewinning contestants from the competition.

The event was jointly organized by the Aram Khachaturian Cultural Foundation and Jingse (Beijing) International Education Science and Technology Co., Ltd., with guidance from the Armenian Ministry of Culture, the China National Opera House, and the Beijing Shijingshan District Bureau of Culture and Tourism. It was also supported by the embassies of China and Armenia.

The competition began its global preliminary stage in August at the Galaxy International Convention Center in Macao. The Beijing round opened on November 1 and was held at the China National Opera House and the Shijingshan Cultural Center.

The competition included amateur and professional divisions. The amateur division consisted of global preliminary and final stages, while the professional division included global preliminaries, a first round, a semifinal, and a final. Jury members were renowned musicians from China and abroad.

To enrich the competition, required Chinese works were added to the repertoire and a Best Performance of a Chinese Work Award was established. An Audience Prize was also introduced to encourage public participation and music education.

Ambassador Vahe Gevorgyan of Armenia noted that the competition helps young musicians improve and connect through music, while Khachaturian's music opens a window for Chinese audiences to understand Armenian culture.

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