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The first competition day of the Changli competition area of ​​the 8th "Xinghai Cup" National Youth Piano Competition was still arranged on Saturday by the organizers, which is also the reason why most of the students participating in the competition were students studying in school.

The competition location is located in the gymnasium in Changli, not too far from Luwei's school. It takes about ten minutes to walk north along the school gate, so it is very convenient.

This is the first time that Changli has hosted such a large-scale regular piano competition this year. Changli's government has put in a lot of effort to apply for the hosting rights of the Hebei competition area. As early as a few months before the competition began, the government and the Cultural Bureau formed a special working group to invite the Central Conservatory of Music and the heads of relevant units of the competition to visit here. Finally, with the good piano atmosphere here and the great enthusiasm for bidding, it was recognized by the organizer. The hosting point of a province was set in a city outside the provincial capital for the first time. It is said that after the application was successful, the director of the Cultural Bureau here was highly praised by the government and also awarded him a cash prize of 50,000 yuan, but the director donated the money to this competition, which was once a beautiful story in Changli.

Before eight o'clock in the morning, the road in front of Changshi's gate began to become lively. On weekdays, there are mainly pedestrians and tricycles. Today, there are often cars, buses, and teams of buses to drive north. In groups of students, they look like three or two, and walk along the road towards the gymnasium. Everyone talks about the same topic, which is the "Star Sea Cup" that is about to start.

At this time, a special convoy came from the intersection. Two police cars in front drove the road, followed by several small cars with government license plates, followed by a business car with a long body, and finally a video car from the TV station.

Looking at this situation, people guessed that it must be the government leaders who came with the judges in charge of the competition. They all gave in politely.

In the business car, Zou Xiang, the chief judge of Changli competition area, looked at the crowds outside the window. Although he had not arrived at the competition venue, he had already deeply felt the importance of the local residents for the competition and couldn't help but feel very happy.

Zou Xiang is a lecturer in the Piano Department of the Central Conservatory of Music. As a pianist living in the United States, he refused the kindness of many world-class orchestras in the United States to revitalize China's piano career. He resolutely returned to China at the end of 1996 and came to the Central Conservatory of Music to serve as an ordinary piano lecturer.

This is the second time that Zou Xiang has served as a judge of the "Xinghai Cup" National Piano Competition. Feeling the strong piano atmosphere here, Zou Xiang is full of expectations for this competition.

The convoy quickly drove into the gymnasium. After the staff released the convoy, they closed the door.

"Old Zhao. Why did you close the door? Why don't you let everyone in?" Zou Xiang said to Zhao Songyang sitting beside him.

As the land president of the Municipal Musicians Association, Zhao Songyang has a high reputation in the Changli piano education industry. He was also invited to serve as a judge for this year's Dixinghai Cup. At this moment, he heard Zou Xiang's question and replied with a smile: "Maybe the venue has not been arranged yet."

"Oh", when Zhao Songyang's answer was heard, Zou Xiang responded.

The convoy stopped in front of the tall main stadium of the gymnasium. The car of the municipal party committee first opened the door. Huang Jiangqin, deputy mayor in charge of culture and education, and Gao Guoqiang, director of the Cultural Bureau, took a group of government officials to the business car and greeted the six judges who got out of the car and walked towards the lounge of the gymnasium with enthusiastic greetings.

Along the way, Zou Xiang was very happy to see the banners hanging high and the slogans that were full of success in the competition, and the carefully placed flowers. He said to Huang Jiangqin who was walking in front of him: "Mayor Huang, you are doing a good job."

"Hehe. Professor Zou, you don't know that being able to apply for the right to hold this time made our secretary and mayor very happy. He immediately instructed that we must organize this competition according to the highest standards and standards of our city." Mayor Huang said happily.

"If local governments across the country attach importance to piano education as much as you do, there will be great hope for our national piano education cause." Zou Xiang said sincerely.

"Haha, when it comes to importance, I am not boasting in front of you Professor Zou. Our local art tradition has been passed down for many years. Take our Master Chang for example. It has a history of more than 100 years and has always insisted on developing qualified and specialized teacher students. Don't you think they don't have a special music class, but the hardware settings inside are not inferior to those of professional music schools at all. There are more than 100 pianos alone." Mayor Huang said with a proud tone.

"Is that so? Then you have the opportunity to go and have a look." Zou Xiang said with interest.

"That's great. We really want to get guidance from a professional like you, haha." Mayor Huang smiled heartily.

"I've been too awarded, too awarded." Zou Xiang was modest.

As several people spoke, they came to the small conference room in the gymnasium. The oval conference table was filled with flowers, and the sides were filled with various dried fruits and bottles of mineral water.

"Come on, please take a seat, please take a few judges. It's really hard for everyone to work hard." Mayor Huang warmly greeted everyone and waited for a while, and Gao Guoqiang also greeted him enthusiastically.

"Come on, everyone will try our local specialties in Changli. This grape is the best in the grape ditch this year. It tastes delicious. If you put one of them, it will be a long aftertaste." Mayor Huang reached out and greeted everyone enthusiastically.

On the table, the purple-black grapes in the fruit plate exuded an attractive color.

"Haha, Mayor Huang, then we are not polite. We can still eat such fresh grapes at this time, and we have a good taste." Zou Xiang said with a smile, then picked one and bit it in his mouth. Suddenly, a cool and sweet juice filled his mouth.

"It's so sweet. It seems that the deliciousness of Changli grapes is indeed not a false saying." Zou Xiang couldn't help but exclaim.

"Haha, if Professor Zou likes to eat, it's okay if he comes often in the future. In the summer, I will take you to the grape ditch to pick it. The ones that have just been removed from the shelves are fresh, and it makes people drool when they think about it." Mayor Huang was also very happy to see the eating of a few grapes. He established a good relationship with the authority of the Central Conservatory of Music, which will have great benefits for the development of Changli's piano career.

After a few people sat down for a while, Zou Xiang proposed to go to the competition site to take a look. The few people immediately got up and walked out.

While walking, Mayor Huang said to Zou Xiang: "Professor Zou, we have put in a lot of effort for this competition. We will arrive at the scene later. I promise to give you a big surprise!"

"What a surprise?" Zou Xiang asked with a smile.

"It's a surprise, it won't be a surprise if you say it in advance." Mayor Huang kept it a secret and said mysteriously.

Several people pushed open the gate of the main stadium of the gymnasium. Inside was a huge oval space the size of a football field, surrounded by orange plastic seats, arranged in circles from low to high from the center of the venue. Looking around, there were no fewer than a few thousand.

In the middle is a solid wood floor dedicated to the basketball court. After waxing, it exudes a soft luster under the illumination of fluorescent lights. The basketball stands on both sides have been removed, and more than a dozen professional stage speakers are placed around it.

"Haha, Professor Zou, there is really nothing we can do. Because there are too many people participating in and watching the competition, the city's Cultural Palace cannot be arranged, so it was changed here." Mayor Huang explained while accompanying Zou Xiang towards the center of the stage.

In the middle of the stage, a pitch-black Stanway lies quietly there, shining with a charming sheen under the light of fluorescent lights.

Zou Xiang's eyes lit up and he lined up and walked towards the piano.

Mayor Huang followed closely behind. Seeing the joy in Zou Xiang's eyes, he felt proud and said, "Professor Zou, this is the surprise I said to give you. How about it? It's OK."

Touching this Stanway, Zou Xiang couldn't hide his praise in his eyes and said, "Mayor Huang, it seems that you have put in a lot of effort. You actually use Stanway for the competition. This one is more than one million."

"Haha, this was personally issued by Mayor Wang. He made a special grant from the Finance Bureau. For the purchase of this competition, after the competition, the city decided to build a Stanway concert hall on one side of the Youth Palace. The scale will not be smaller than here, and it will be a professional venue for various large-scale piano competitions in the future." Mayor Huang said proudly.

"Okay, okay." Zou Xiang listened to Mayor Huang's words and kept admiring. Looking at Stanway, he was unbearable for a moment. He sat in front of the piano, opened the cover, and improvised for a while.

Although it was an improvisation, the superb skills and exciting music still made everyone cheer.

"It's so wonderful. It's worthy of being the authority of the Central Conservatory of Music. I, Mr. Huang, have a great time today." Mayor Huang exclaimed loudly, and the others agreed, appreciating Zou Xiang's piano skills.

He stood up and closed the zither cover. Zou Xiang said a few politely, and walked towards the judges with everyone.
Chapter completed!