The 2023 Ningbo International Vocal Competition concluded successfully in Ningbo.

On the evening of December 11th, 2023, the 2023 Ningbo International Vocal Competition held its closing ceremony and award concert. After a five-year hiatus, Ningbo welcomed the world’s talented voices. 49 vocal stars from 18 countries gathered in Ningbo. Over a short span of 10 days, they went through multiple rounds of professional competition including preliminaries, semifinals, and finals. With superb singing skills and strong artistic charisma, they brought a grand artistic enjoyment to the local residents and once again attracted the world’s attention to Ningbo.

Ningbo International Vocal Competition Promotional Poster

Congratulations to Chinese participants Hong Zhenxiang and Cai Jingwen for winning first place in the male and female vocal categories, respectively. Russian participant Maria Arkhipova receives the Excellent Performance Award for Chinese Art Songs!

The organizing committee presents awards to the winning participants.

The organizing committee presents awards to the winning participants.

 

Secretary-General Florian Reim of the World International Music Alliance attended the closing ceremony and highly praised the host city of Ningbo for the competition. He stated that the Ningbo International Vocal Competition is currently the only vocal competition in China recognized by the World Music Competitions Federation, and it is one of the top international vocal competitions worldwide. It serves as an important platform for discovering vocal talents. With its profound cultural heritage and unique artistic quality, Ningbo has infused rich meaning into music, which is a universal language shared by humanity.

“In this International Vocal Competition, the contestants’ musical talent, professional level, and their love for music have left us with a very deep impression.” Professor Yuan Chenye, from the Voice Department of the Central Conservatory of Music and Chairman of the 2023 Ningbo International Vocal Competition Jury, expressed that to win in such a “high-standard, high-level” competition, it is not just about singing a few well-known songs. Contestants need to comprehensively demonstrate their musical foundation, abilities, and cultivation during the competition. “Displaying vocal skills is one part; the competition also tests contestants’ understanding of music, drama, literature, and characters. The performance of Chinese art songs in the semi-finals section serves to examine contestants’ comprehension of the essence of Chinese music and the unique charm of the Chinese language.”

 

Concert venue

Concert venue

Concert venue

Concert venue

Concert venue

Concert venue

Concert venue

The 7 award-winning contestants performing live on stage

This competition has become an important opportunity for Ningbo to further expand its international cultural exchange circle. Overseas accounts such as Ningbo Daily Media, Ningbo Culture and Tourism, and Ningbo Evening News actively followed the event schedule and collaborated to amplify the dissemination power, collectively releasing about 33 posts with over 357,000 views and more than 38,000 interactions. Additionally, the competition received attention and coverage from various mainstream domestic media outlets like Xinhua News Agency, Guangming Daily, Traveling in China, Chinese Art Newspaper, and Beijing Youth Daily. During the semi-finals, finals, and closing ceremony stages, Music Weekly, CCTV, People’s Daily, and local mainstream media conducted live broadcasts, with the total viewership exceeding one million.

South Korean contestant Ji Byeong-won, Hungarian contestant Sarah, and judge Daniel, an Austrian producer, along with other artists actively liked, shared, and posted with the hashtag #Ningbo on their personal accounts. Russian contestant Maria posted a photo of Ningbo’s old streets and praised ‘Ningbo is a very good city.’ Official accounts such as China Daily and China Culture also reported on the event, once again making Ningbo’s presence heard worldwide.

“The International Vocal Competition held in Ningbo has had a significant influence in the domestic and international vocal and music circles,” mentioned Yu Feng in an interview. In September this year, the 2023 Ningbo International Vocal Competition set up an overseas competition venue in Europe for the first time, attracting many high-level participants. “This year’s contestants include winners of the Golden Bell Award and the Tchaikovsky Music Competition. Their participation also reflects Ningbo’s continuous effort to build an international platform,” Yu Feng mentioned.

However, creating a world-class ‘stage’ is not accomplished overnight. In 2005, the third China International Vocal Competition was hosted in Ningbo. Since then, in 2008, 2011, 2014, 2018… until 2023, Ningbo has been associated with international vocal competitions for 18 years. Upholding this stage for 18 years has not only witnessed the growth of many vocalists but also nurtured their dreams.

On the opening night, Associate Professor Xiao Ma from Ningbo University’s School of Music arrived at the event and expressed heartfelt emotions: “Participating in this competition for the first time brought me to Ningbo… The International Vocal Competition fulfilled my musical dream and propelled me from Ningbo to the world.”

Yu Feng conducting

Moreover, the previous International Vocal Competition champion, Mongolian contestant Tsend-Ayush Amartuvshin, expressed his joy at returning to Ningbo: “Winning the 2018 International Vocal Competition was a significant turning point in my life.”

Amartuvshin recalled, “I love opera performance, so I signed up without hesitation.” Fortunately, winning the competition championship led to multiple renowned international opera houses, including the Yakut National Opera Theater in Russia, reaching out to him, hoping that his experience would inspire more people with musical dreams.

According to Yu Feng, for young individuals, the competition not only enhances contestants’ visibility but also serves as a cradle for discovering artists. “The competition’s jury selects and nurtures artists here.”

Music is a universal language and a bridge connecting different cultures. In the 2023 Ningbo International Vocal Competition, participants and judges from various countries gather to make friends through songs and unite through music.

Here, we witness emotional resonances that transcend borders.