Apogee Launches Programs in China and Provides Awards to Four of the Nation's Most Outstanding Musicians

The Apogee Foundation, a philanthropic corporation dedicated to the development of human excellence in the performance arts, announced today that it is now implementing programs in China to identify, support, develop and promote elite performing arts talent. The Foundation kicked off its operations in the nation's capital by providing awards to the most gifted students and faculty of the Central Conservatory Music School.

New York and Beijing, October 23, 2007 (Billboard Publicity Wire / PRWeb (US), PressBox (UK)) - The Apogee Foundation, a philanthropic corporation dedicated to the development of human excellence in the performance arts, announced today that it is launching its full slate of programs in China.

Apogee kicked off its activities in the nation's capital by naming three of the Central Conservatory Music School's most gifted students: pianists Wang Chun and Huang Nansong, together with er hu (Chinese classical violin) artist Wang Xiao, as the first Excellence Award laureates in the country. Apogee simultaneously named Professor Zhang Jin: Head of the Central Conservatory's Piano Department and instructor of both Wang Chun and Huang Nansong, as the inaugural Achievement Award laureate in China. Earlier this month, the Foundation's Board of Directors also appointed Professor Yu Rongfu: International Secretary and former Director of the Central Conservatory Music School, to a chair on Apogee's global Advisory Council.

Apogee Merit Scholar: Huang Nansong

By the age of 13, Huang Nansong had won a host of international piano competitions and performed with world class orchestras on three continents

To see videocasts of these and other Apogee Award laureates as well as Apogee Artists events around the world, visit Apogee Videocasting at: http://www.apogeefoundation.org/media/video.php

For more information on Apogee Awards, please see: http://www.apogeefoundation.org/awards/index.php

In the course of the coming year, Apogee intends to follow this initial set of awards with a full slate of Apogee Awards, Apogee Academy and Apogee Artists programs throughout East Asia, following the launch of its programs across South Asia earlier this year.

Apogee Merit Scholar: Wang Xiao

Wang Xiao is widely considered to be one of the most promising performers on the Chinese classical violin (the er hu)

Professor Xing Weikai, Director of the Central Conservatory Music School, said "On behalf of the many talented young artists in China who deserve this level of international recognition and support, we welcome Apogee to our country and look forward to successfully expanding on this collaboration in the years to come."

Apogee President Kenneth Schneider said "Because Apogee focuses on identifying and promoting extraordinary talent from the earliest stages of artists' careers, we see the future of the performance arts long before the world at large. It is therefore a special privilege to become a part of China's rapid re-emergence as a world center of artistic excellence."

To view the full version of this release, please visit the Foundation's website at: http://www.apogeefoundation.org/media/2007/china_central_conservatory.php

Apogee President Kenneth Schneider (left) with Apogee Achievement Award laureate Professor Zhang Jin at the Central Conservatory Music School in Beijing, China

Professor Zhang is the instructor of two of Apogee's first three Apogee Merit Scholars in China

About The Apogee Foundation ®
Apogee is an international philanthropic organization dedicated to the development of human excellence in the performance arts. The Foundation is a global leader in discovering, developing and celebrating human creative potential.

Contact
Kenneth Schneider, President
The Apogee Foundation
1001 Avenue of the Americas, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10018-5460 (USA)
+1.646.224.6960 or +1.888.APOGEE.8
www.apogeefoundation.org