THE 3rd China International Violin Competition will be held in Qingdao from Oct. 12 to 24. The organizing committee has changed some of the rules, which will make the competition more difficult and attract more violinists.

Among the 14 judges, only prominent violinist Chai Liang and conductor Zhang Guoyong are from China, while the rest are all music masters from countries including the United States, Canada, Austria, Japan, South Korea, Finland and Britain.

Chairman of the judging panel is the Chinese-French violinist, conductor and music professor Hu Kun. He won his first international prize in 1980 when he was 17 and was the first Chinese violinist to enter an international competition.

The fields are more diverse this year. “Each instrument has its limitations and more diversity can result in a better judgement of a performance,” Hu said.

All contestants should be aged between 16 and 36 and have to play the “Mozart Piano Concerto” with a pianist in the first round of competition and “Butterfly”in the final.

Some new prizes will be added this year, including the Classic Music Award, the Romantic Music Award, Modern Music Award, Best Performance for a Chinese Violinist and the Lin Yaoji Award.

Applications will close June 30 and applicants would come to Qingdao for the first round of competition after a primary selection in London, Hu said.

The winner could receive an antique piano sponsored by a music store in London and will sign contract with record companies. First prize is US$50,000, US$ 20,000 more than in previous years. Total prize money for the first three prizes is US$100,000. Winners of special awards can receive US$1,000 to US$3,000 each.

The final competition will be held at the Qingdao Grand Theater. (Wang Yuanyuan, Li Wei)