Speech by Mr. Cao Chun Liang, Director of The Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture

Distinguished guests, media friends, ladies and gentlemen,

　　Good morning! Welcome to the Canton International Summer Music Academy Launch.

　　The Canton International Summer Music Academy is the first ever professional summer music academy to be established in China and it is an annual significant international high-level musical culture event. The Guangdong Provincial Party Committee and the People’s Government made the decision to build the Guangdong Province as the province of culture in September 2003 – this is an unprecedented unique opportunity for the province’s cultural development. We need international arts projects for the construction of the culture province, therefore the Party Committee and the People’s Government of GD Province give full support to the establishment of the Canton International Summer Music Academy. The project of the CISMA has been listed on the Planning Outline of the Guangdong. Mr. Chen Shao Ji, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of Guangdong Province, who is also a Calligraphist, has been invited by Mr. Zhang De Jiang, Committee member of Political Bureau of the Central Committee, also the Secretary General of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, to design the Chinese calligraphy for the CISMA. As one of the promoters of the CISMA, the People’s Government of Foshan city and the Naihai Local government also give tremendous support to the CISMA project.

　　Here, I would like to talk about the important meaning and the features of the CISMA.

　　It has been a long history in Europe and the United States to establish professional music summer academies and festivals with the faculty being made up of international celebrated artists every year during the summer vacations. Nowadays, such kind of summer academies and festivals have been developed as a significant international high-level musical culture event. The Aspen Music festival and Tanglewood Music Festival and School are two of the most successful examples among them. Learning from the expertise of foreign countries, drawing on the Guangdong Province’s culture and arts resources, it is very important and practical to establish the CISMA to cultivate professional musicians, develop the cultural undertakings of GD & China, encourage the international cultural exchange and promote our cultural position in the world.

　　Summer Camp is a general name of kind of extracurricular activities in summer for the young students. While actually the CISMA is more like a summer music school as what it has been translated in English – I think it is more accurate. The Academy provides talented student musicians and young professional musicians both from China and the wider Asian region with a unique opportunity to be coached by some of the most distinguished artists in the world. Students can enjoy an extensive musical experience under the tutelage of established international experts with fantastic programs. CISMA will become an extraordinary place for artistic and personal development for young musicians. Statistics shows that almost 20% players and no less than 30% principal musicians in American symphony orchestras have been trained in the Tanglewood Music Festival. The establishment of the CISMA is the breakthrough undertaking for the development of China musical enterprise.

　　It is our great honor to have invited international renowned conductor Maestro Charles Dutoit as Music Director of CISMA. He will undoubtedly bring huge influence to CISMA with whose international authority shows the high standard of CISMA.
My thanks also goes to Prof. LO King Man, Emeritus Director of Hong Kong Academy For Performing Arts, who is appointed as Director of Administration of CISMA. With his profound artistic understanding and rich experience in arts management, recognized as a famous person in performing arts. Mr. Lo will create an international artistic administrative management system for the Academy.

　　In particular, I would like to mention the IMG Artists the international consultants to the Academy, the world’s leading client management, project management and touring company in the classical arts. As we know, International Management Group is appointed as the international marketing consultant to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games by the China Olympic Games Bid Committee. 88 branch offices are established in 35 countries. AS IMG Artists will advise and assist in the areas of program development; faculty appointment including the selection and engagement of musician tutors, conductors and other specialists; recruitment of international students; marketing and promotions.

　　Special thanks to Mr. Jeff Fuhrman, President and Chief Operating Officer of IMG Artists, your presence of today’s launch press conference of CISMA.

　　The beautiful Butterfly Valley in the Nanguo Peach Garden provides a superior environment for students and tutors’ study and living. We are grateful for the generous support from Mr. LU Guo Hao, the Managing Director of the Butterfly Valley Hotel.

　　We have strong back up from our government, finest professional faculty made up of international celebrated musicians, systematic administrative management, tremendous assistance from international leading arts management company and luxury site environment - all of this predicts a bright future of China Canton International Summer Music Academy. We plan to use five years to build up the CISMA to develop as the international music academy of the largest scale and greatest influence in Asia region.

　　It is the first time to run the Canton International Summer Music Academy in China, and it is a new undertaking that needs the support from the whole community and all levels of society.

　　Wish the 1st Canton International Summer Music Academy a great success.

　　Thank you.