First Khachaturian International Youth Music Competition Opens in Beijing with Best Chinese Work Performance Award

The first Khachaturian International Youth Competition opened on the evening of November 1 at the China National Opera House in Beijing.

The competition includes piano, violin, and cello, with more than 300 outstanding young international contestants competing over 10 days at the China National Opera House and the Beijing Shijingshan Cultural Center.

Guided by the Armenian Ministry of Culture, the China National Opera House, and the Beijing Shijingshan District Bureau of Culture and Tourism, the competition aims to provide a stage for young music lovers around the world while creating new channels for discovering and developing musical talent.

The 2024 edition features international conductor Sergey Smbatyan, Artistic Director of the Khachaturian International Competition, together with the China National Opera House Symphony Orchestra and the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra throughout the event.

In addition to prizes and honors, the competition offers outstanding young musicians performance opportunities, introductions to international agencies, and other professional resources.

The organizing committee added required Chinese works to the repertoire and established the Best Chinese Work Performance Award, using the competition to present the appeal of Chinese music to international audiences. An Audience Prize was also introduced to support public engagement and music education.

The opening concert was conducted by Li Xincao, President of the China Conservatory of Music, with the China National Opera House Symphony Orchestra and young artists including Natalia Dragan, Mari Hakobyan, and Wu Younan.

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