On 28 June, the 2nd International Piano Festival Xiamen University was held in the concert hall of Science and Arts Center, Xiamen University. Julian Jacobson, professor of piano and chamber music at the Royal College of Music, John Thwaites, professor and chairman of Keyboard Department, Birmingham Conservatoire, Lai Hongkai, deputy Party Secretary of Xiamen University, Su Li, professor and dean of College of Arts Xiamen University, and over 600 students and teachers attended the opening ceremony.
The ten-day-long piano festival includes 23 concerts and more than 40 top pianists and professors from Europe, America, Asia, and offer tens of lectures and master classes. Among them are Hao Huang, professor of Scripps College, Daniel Epstein, professor of Manhattan School of Music, Ito Kei, professor of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Prof. Zheng Xiaoying, former chief conductor and artistic director of Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra, Yuan Jie, UN Arts Ambassador, as well as other up-and-coming young pianists.
At the ceremony, Caroline Almonte, Australian pianist, and Alexander Sinchuk, Russian hot pianist, accompanied by Xiamen University Philharmonic Orchestra, played respectively Yellow River Piano Concerto, and Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto. John Ferguson, former chief conductor of Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra, directed the performance.
From 28 June to 10 July, there will be master classes and concerts in the morning, afternoon and evening every day. More information is available at Wechat of concert hall at College of Arts of Xiamen University.