The Shanghai program is the first established outside New York, where the 56-year-old virtuoso's music school is based. This year's program attracted 68 students, 28 of whom are from countries other than China, and all of whom were hand-selected by Perlman.

Wearing T-shirts with the logo, "beautiful music", these 12-18 year old students of violin, viola, cello and piano are expected to experience Perlman's doctrine of "joyful learning" during their three-week close encounter with the master.

Well-known Chinese violinist Yu Lina said Perlman's unique teaching method permits the young prodigies to enjoy the real thrill of music.

Billed as the undeniable great violinist, Perlman played with the Israeli Philharmonic in the former City Hall Auditorium in Shanghai eight years ago.

The prestigious Leventritt Prize winner of 1964 had promised to return to Shanghai and said it is like a "dream coming true" to open his Master program here.

Perlman brings with him 12 professors from his school, all distinguished musicians. Among them are Paul Katz, cello professor with the New England Conservatory of Music and a two-time Grammy Award winner, and Heidi Castlemen, viola professor with the Julliard School.

Perlman's three-week stay in Shanghai was a delightful surprise for Chinese music lovers, who learned of him through his soundtrack of the highly-acclaimed Oscar-winning film Schindler's List. The opening of the graduate program came as a surprise to the American media, and the New York Times plans to send a correspondent to cover his stay in China.

Perlman is scheduled to hold a solo concert next week in the Shanghai Grand Theater, considered to be one of the best in the world.

Following his Shanghai tour from Aug. 9-28, Perlman will travel to Beijing for another solo concert in the Great Hall of the People. A short visit to Xi'an is also on his China agenda.

Perlman has achieved a great deal in his life despite suffering a crippling disability -- childhood polio -- which resulted in a lifetime in a wheelchair.

He has played violin with orchestras worldwide. He has conducted the Philadelphia, Chicago, Toronto, Houston, Pittsburgh, Dallas and US National symphony orchestras, the Israeli Philharmonic and the English Chamber Orchestra.

( August 21, 2002)