Editor's Note: International organizations are important platforms for gathering high-end elements. Attracting international organizations in light of the capital city's functional positions is a key step in improving Beijing's role as the center for international exchanges. In recent years, Beijing has made continuous efforts to improve its international environment and services. Just a few days ago, the Leading Group for Improving Beijing's Role as the Center for International Exchanges deliberated and adopted the policy measures to attract international organizations and facilitate their settlement and operation in Beijing.
By the end of 2021, a total of 101 international organizations have launched headquarters and representative offices in Beijing, the highest number in the country. As more international organizations gather in Beijing, they fully mobilize resources in their respective fields to attract international resources and promote Beijing's high-level opening up and high-quality development. The column "International Organizations in Beijing" will take you closer to these international organizations and help you learn about the behind-the-scenes stories of their settlement, operation and development in Beijing.
Global Music Education League Traditional Chinese Music Concert
Building a platform for cultural exchanges and mutual learning between the east and the west is our common wish.
"The original purpose of establishing Global Music Education League (GMEL) is to build a platform for cultural exchanges and mutual learning between the east and the west." Professor Wang Liguang, president of the China Conservatory of Music and chairman of GMEL, said, "Before this, there was no international organization that connects the world's top music education institutions. Since all of us are eager to communicate, we decided to launch an international organization to bring these institutions together and promote the exchanges and mutual learning of music between China and the west."
The preparation came across many difficulties. Professor Wang Liguang said, "Chinese music is widely recognized in the international community for higher music education which takes western classical music as the mainstream. For western mainstream societies, Chinese music is just folk songs played on the streets, and they listen to it just for fun. Many world-class conservatoires with hundreds of years of history were sceptical about a 'young' conservatoire in Beijing taking the lead to launch the organization."
The Chinese musicians didn't give up. Instead, they launched a number of events to facilitate the establishment of GMEL. In September 2017, nearly 100 principals of top music education institutions from Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania gathered in Beijing to attend an exchange event dedicated to principals of global music education institutions. For the first time, these global leaders in music culture closely observed the teaching of Chinese musical instruments, including Pipa and Guzheng, and knew about the teaching methods and concepts of Chinese music. After watching the performance featuring both Chinese traditional music and western music at the traditional Chinese music concert, the principals rose to their feet and applauded, and expressed their willingness to join the GMEL. Ambrose Field, then Head of Department of Music at the University of York, UK, said that he would immediately launch a Chinese music center at the University of York after returning to Britain. Frank Kouwennoven, a Dutch musicologist, said that he would use GMEL as a platform to expand his academic research on Chinese music. With the efforts made by Chinese musicians, GMEL was established and became a bridge of the cultural exchanges in music between China and the west.
Principals observe the teaching of Chinese music
Beijing: the Choice of All GMEL Members
During the preparation, relevant international institutions expressed their willingness to help GMEL with the establishment. UNESCO offered to help GMEL launch in Paris. Carnegie Corporation of New York promised to provide free office for GMEL if it sets up its headquarters in New York. In the early stages of preparation, principals of some member institutions also proposed that Europe and North America, as traditional music education centers, might be ideal places for GMEL's headquarters.
After attending the China International Music Competition held by the China Conservatory of Music, and the GMEL teaching demonstration event, the members fully recognized the unique charm of Beijing which combines both Chinese traditional culture and diversified cultures across the world. Given Beijing's strengths in high-end art exchanges, venue facilities, experience in organizing large-scale events and international environment, the directors of GMEL finally reached consensus on settling in Beijing.
China International Music Competition
Group Photo of GMEL Members
Helping Chinese Music Students Go Abroad
While promoting the cultural exchanges and mutual learning of Chinese and western music, GMEL also built a platform for Chinese music students to study at the world's top music institutions. GMEL mobilized the resources of member institutions and launched the world's first joint training model. So far, 22 students from China Conservatory of Music have had the opportunity to study at both Chinese and foreign conservatories through GMEL "2+2" and "1+1+1" study programs. Many of them have brought the world's most brilliant music ideas back to Beijing and become shining stars on the international music stage.
Recently, Yao Jialin, a 2021 graduate of the joint training program who studied at the Piano Department of the Juilliard School in the United States, won the second prize (the first prize was left vacant) and the special prize "Chopin" at the International Piano Competition of Friuli Venezia Giulia.
Yao Jialin wins the second prize at the 23rd International Piano Competition of Friuli Venezia Giulia in Italy
Yao said, "The prize is a summary of my study at the Juilliard School as a jointly trained student. GMEL has offered me a broad platform, and granted me the opportunity to study at the top music institution in the world, which was unimaginable in the past."
Wang Liguang, chairman of GMEL, said, "We plan to further expand the joint training program, tap more talented students, and develop GMEL into an important exchange platform for music culture between China and the west, thus contributing to Beijing's role as the center for international exchanges and the national cultural center."
Profile of Global Music Education League
The Global Music Education League (GMEL) was initiated by China Conservatory of Music. It is committed to enhancing exchanges and collaboration among international music education institutions and building a platform for international talent training, teaching, research, resources building and sharing, exchanges and cooperation. GMEL brings together 84 world-renowned music institutions and academic groups such as Eastman School of Music in the US, Sibelius Academy in Finland, and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in the UK. It is the only non-governmental international organization for world-class music institutions and the only international organization with headquarters officially registered in China in 2021.
(Photo Credit: China Conservatory of Music, International Piano Competition of Friuli Venezia Giulia)
