Beijing Music Festival

The most significant entity drawing international attention to Beijing as a classical music center, founded in 1998 by Yu Long. The Beijing Music Festival has enjoyed great acclaim, and deserves credit for virtually single-handedly establishing Beijing as an international destination for classical music. But thus far, it has found it necessary to focus its energies on promoting itself in the national and international arena to maintain a high profile. The Great Wall Music Festival (founded by Kurt Sassmanshaus) is dedicated to young string players from China and abroad. Apart from the Beijing Music Festivals, The National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) also hosts festivals. In August 2008, it began its Chorus Festival inviting choirs from Russia, the Philippines, UK, Hong Kong and mainland China. The August Chorus Festival is one of NCPA