German Ambassador to China Patricia Flor gives opening remarks in Beijing on October 23. Photo: Dong Feng/GT

The German Embassy in China hosted a concert with winners of the 9th China Youth Music Competition (CYMC) Hummingbird Music Awards (2024) at the German Ambassador's residence in Beijing on October 23, with about 100 participants. 

The young musicians performed classical pieces including those by Bach, Mozart, Debussy, and Haydn, on piano, violin, harp, flute, and many other musical instruments. 

In her opening remarks, German Ambassador to China Patricia Flor said, "The CYMC award winners' concert has become a real tradition at the embassy. For us, [the] CYMC is a very special partner in the field of German-Chinese cultural exchange. Through close cooperation with the German Music Council and Jugend Musiziert, [the] CYMC promotes direct interaction between young German and Chinese musicians - that is what makes this project so special."

"This year, I myself had the opportunity to attend the winners' concert at the Beijing regional competition. I always find it impressive how much enthusiasm, joy, and motivation young people show in pursuing their passion for making music," Flor noted. 

Chamber music is an art form that offers, in the European tradition, a beautiful framework to experience music together. This special way of making music brings people together in a very personal way. It allows you to experience how music connects - across continents, borders, and languages, she said. 

Throughout the event, the young musicians from both Germany and China were cooperative, performing invigorating, inspiring, and joyful music for the audience. 

The CYMC Hummingbird Music Award is a music education initiative and international music competition open to musicians under the age of 22 from all over the world. Modeled on the successful German national competition "Jugend musiziert," (or Youth makes music) the CYMC offers young musicians in China the opportunity to demonstrate their skills. The focus is on making music together and exchanging ideas between young musicians.