The 2008 “Chinese National Lyric Audition, International Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques Program” will be held this April in Mianyang City, Sichuan Province, and organized by the Sichuan Conservatory of Music Mianyang Art College, Royal De Musiquede Toronto Canada, Conservation de Paris La Schola Cantorum and Theatre Lyrichoregra 20 Canada. Any Chinese vocalist under the age of 35 is eligible to participate.

Created in 1994 by Theatre Lyrichoregra 20 with the support of the Royal Bank and the Maison de la Culture Rosemont-Petite Patrie, the oung Lyric Ambassadors program has as its objective the development of international careers, particularly in Europe, for talented young Canadian singers.

To reach its objectives, the Theatre Lyrichoregra 20 has signed agreements for cooperation with lyrical theatres, international vocal competitions and lyrical organizations in Austria, Belgium, the Czech and Slovak Republics, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Roumania and Spain.

As part of this program there have been three “Chinese National Lyric Auditions” held in China, and this competition in Mianyang is the fourth. The aim of the competition is to select outstanding music talents for 5 major international vocal competitions in 2008 (including 27th International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition, Austria, 13th International Singing Competition Orvieto, Italy, 20éme Concours International de Chant de Marmande France, 13th Julian Gayarre International Singing Competition, Spain as well as Cittàdi Alcamo” International Singing Contest, Italy) and to send excellent singers to study or attend performances in Europe and America.

The competition will start in April this year; the judging panel is composed of senior professionals and professors from France, Canada, Holland and China, including Zhuqing Lacombe, Michel Denis, Jdan Macphail, Alain Nonat and Hans Nienwenbans.

By Ding Yujie