This year will differ from the first Golden Bell Awards, held last year, by consisting of three parts: One for the solo piano works composed after 1990, one for the vocal works produced in 2001 and 2002, and the other for the piano playing. Last year's awards were in symphonies, instrumental works and vocal works.

Only those younger than 35 years old are qualified to participate in the piano playing competition. And a special award will be given to musicians who play Chinese music.

The "lifetime achievement award" will be presented to senior musicians who have devoted their lives to music.

"The Golden Bell Awards have had a great influence on Chinese musicians to create more and more of our own music," said Fu Gengchen, chairman of the Chinese Musicians Association.

"I wish the awards could cover more fields besides composing and piano playing next time," he added.

Choosing Gulangyu as the host of the competition is partly due to its reputation as the "island of the piano" because it has a long music tradition.

On the small island, which is only 1.78-square kilometers, there are 535 pianos, the largest piano museum in China, two concert halls, a professional symphony orchestra and thousands of music fans.

In the past century, hundreds of local people, such as conductor Chen Zuohuang, pianists Yin Chengzong and Xu Xing'ai, have become well-known music figures in China and the world.

During the 10-day competition in May, a national contest of piano playing for the under-18-year-old players will also be held.

In time, some well-known pianists from China, France, Australia, Russia, Britain and the United States will also be invited to give concerts and master classes.

(China Daily January 17, 2002)