The inaugural Youth Music Culture Guangdong (YMCG) festival will take place in Guangzhou from Jan 7 to 15, 2017.

The festival, which is scheduled to become an annual event, is said to become a major cultural highlight for Guangdong province in the years to come.

The event is set to feature a dazzling array of public events including two orchestral concerts, chamber concerts and five "Music + Dialogue" sessions, as well as improvisation workshops.

World-renowned artist Yo-Yo Ma, who is also YMCG's artistic director, said, "The YMCG festival is focused on the younger generation, sharing musical skills as well as encouraging personal growth."

The festival's artistic committee has selected 80 musicians under the age of 35 to join the YMCG Orchestra to perform during the week.

The YMCG festival gathers resources from around the world. Participants will not only deepen their knowledge of classical music through exposure to different styles of music, but also learn to be open and flexible in their approach. The team of international musicians will dedicate themselves in building bridges to connect countries and regions on the cultural front.

It is also a symbol of how Guangdong Province is fostering cultural development.

Yo-Yo Ma explains his music concepts at a press conference for the inaugural Youth Music Culture Guangdong Festival. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]