What is worth mentioning here is Shen Xiang, a vocal music professor. Since 1980s, his students have won prizes in international music consecutively. It amazed the international music arena that there are such excellent vocal music professors like him. In early 1980s, Gino Becky, a famous Italian bel canto professor, came to teach in China, creating a sensation about bel canto in the Chinese music arena. Some singers and students majoring in vocal music learned some rudiments of bel canto in Becky’s classes. Based on this, Professor Shen Xiang helped them in refining the bel canto skills into a higher level. Professor Shen Xiang’s reputation skyrocketed especially after two of his students (Liang Ning and Dilibaier) won the first and second prize in the 1st Miriam Helin International Singing Competition in Helsinki, Finland, in 1984. In July 1988, invited by Savonlinna Opera Training Fund and National Opera House, Helsinki, Finland, Shen Xiang went to teach there for 1 month and a half, together with Li Jinwei, his wife. On hearing the news, teachers and actors from music academies and opera houses in Finland rushed to his classes, including the dean of the Vocal Music Department of Sibelius Academy. Later, the Savonlinna Opera Festival Foundation decided that Shen Xiang and his wife would be invited to teach in Finland every summer. The achievement of Professor Shen Xiang proves that the Chinese music education level in some of the subjects is already of the top level in the international music arena.

Chen Zuohuang is the first Chinese conductor that was awarded a doctorate of music in the international music arena. He has been the art director and permanent conductor in two American symphony orchestras. When a reform was carried out in China National Symphony Orchestra (the former Central Orchestra) and he was asked to come back, he came back without hesitation and took up his post. After the renaming of the Symphony Orchestra and the implementation of the framework plan of Chen Zuohuang, the Symphony Orchestra was more like a regulated international music group. The music season, i.e., the annual plan, was formulated and publicized by China National Symphony Orchestra for the first time. Chen Zuohung refused the generous payment of overseas music groups and became the art director of China National Symphony Orchestra. His patriotism has been an example to follow for young music learners studying abroad.

IV. The emerging of young Chinese musicians

Since 1980s, young Chinese musicians began to enter the world music stage. All of them were cultivated by Chinese teachers in Chinese music academies. In 1980, Hu Kun won the fifth prize in the Sibelius International Violin Competition in Helsinki, Finland, who was the first young Chinese musician who entered the world music stage and won prizes after the reform and opening-up. Later, young Chinese musicians won many more prizes in all kinds of famous international music competitions and showcased the Chinese music education level to the world.

Since 1980s, many young Chinese outstanding musicians achieved great successes in important international music competitions and activities in different fields, such as vocal music, instrumental music, composition, conducting and musical instrument fabrication. It attracted the attention of the world and reflected the significant achievement of China in music art and education. The higher art schools gradually shook off the confinement of the Soviet mode and the nightmare of the Cultural Revolution, and had been rejuvenated in a free environment after the reform and opening-up. The suppressed passion of many key teachers began to burst. Famous teachers of all subjects emerged and became the backbones of famous music schools. For instance, some violinists who won prizes in international competitions, such as Hu Kun, Chai Liang, Xue Wei, Dong Kun, and Guo Chang, had been students of Lin Yaoji, a famous educationist. Their violin skills developed greatly after being taught by famous teachers. Lin Yaoji had studied in the Soviet Union in 1960s. He explained his success in teaching: he taught students in accordance with their aptitudes, and asked them to be eclectic, understand the background of each piece of work, and accurately convey the inherent implication of the work. In 1980s, the achievement of the Chinese music education was fully showcased in the world music competitions. The achievements of the young musicians were unprecedented in the Chinese music history.

The emerging of young Chinese musicians was not only showcased in music competitions, but also in studying abroad and their performances in the world music stage. The reform and opening-up enabled studying abroad to be a possibility for music students to continue their studies. They had received trainings in China, and grasped skills in performing and singing. However, they were powerless in expressing the artistic styles. On one hand, it was a result of their lack of cultural accomplishments; on the other hand, they did not have a thorough knowledge on the living environment and artistic background of the composers. After they studied abroad, they had more direct experience and deeper understanding of the artistic styles of music works, made remarkable progresses, and achieved important artistic breakthroughs. Some of them have been members of important music groups and acquired considerable achievements. For instance, Shao En, Lv Jia and Shui Lan have been conductors in important overseas music groups. Liang Ning and Dilibaier have served major roles in opera houses abroad. Fu Haijing, a Chinese baritone, has worked with the USA Metropolitan Opera House where world celebrities gather, putting on concerts or playing important roles in operas across the world as an outstanding singer. Kong Xiangdong has also been active in the world music stage as a pianist. Besides, large numbers of young performers have scattered in all kinds of art groups or academies in the west. According to rough statistics, there have been no less than 5,000 Chinese music students studying abroad, either subsidized by the government or at their own expenses. Among whom, there have been 50 music talents who have emerged in the international music arena.