Korean cellist Hee-Young Lim. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

For him, the most important thing to appreciate classical music is not the theory but the exposure to live performance. "One doesn't have to learn musical theory to become a music lover. Come to the concerts, and don't be afraid to listen to new pieces," he said. "It's different if you can see the players, because you can actually feel the emotion."

Having studied at the CCOM several times over the years, Muller met many interesting students. "There is so much talent here. It's always a pleasure to come," he said.

When talking about the future of Western classical music, Muller said musicians still have a lot of work to do. "Thanks to Asia, now classical music is rising again. We have to keep it alive," Muller said. "The young composers also need to write attractive, new pieces."

If you go:

7:30pm – 9pm, May 9. Performance Hall, No. 43, Central Conservatory of Music, Baojia Street, Xicheng district, Beijing

Tickets: Free