Zhang Yong, founder of the China Youth Music Competition, with Benedikt Holtbernd, artistic manager of the German Music Council. [Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily]

In 2016, the first edition of the contest ran in Beijing and Shanghai, and attracted more than 600 applicants from across China.

This year, more than 1,100 students competed in eight cities and 410 came to Beijing for the final in July.

"This competition encourages children to play instruments with other musicians. There is fun in cooperating with others. And technique is not the only standard here, but understanding of music as well," says Zhang.

Zhang studied pipa (a four-stringed Chinese plucked instrument) for three years before learning the oboe. He came to Beijing in 1986 to study at the affiliated middle school of the Central Conservatory of Music.

In 2006, he founded the Beijing International Music Competition, which brought together professional international musicians.

In 2014, Zhang met Benedikt Holtbernd, the artistic manager of the nonprofit arm of the German Music Council in Munich, where the Jugend Musiziert is headquartered.

Revealing how he and Zhang came to work together, Holtbernd says: "We share similar views about music and music competitions. But it took a very long time to work out the details about bringing the format of the Jugend Musiziert to China.

"However, I am glad to see talented young Chinese musicians compete not just for prizes, but also to enjoy and share music."