Young violinists celebrate Olympics

It's less than fifty days until the opening of the Beijing Olympics. A special celebration was held in west Beijing, Sunday to mark the 50 day milestone. 2008 young violinists performed together at the Fengtai sports center. The show was an expression of good will and a hope for a success of the Games.

The venue became a sea of green, as over two thousand violinists played to the audience at the Fengtai Sports Center. The musicians come from student orchestras, music study groups and some were individual violin students. The youngest performer was only five. The oldest was eighteen. Renowned violinist Sheng Zhongguo played the solo. The piece was called "Forever 2008", a new symphony penned for the summer games by Ye Xiaogang and Fang Dongqing.

Another highlight was provided by eighteen year old Xie Haoming. Last year's competition winner for the "Golden Bell Award," performed a solo: "Gypsy's Song".

Ten year old Tang Jieming, also a title winner at a national violin contest, played a duet with Sheng Zhongguo. The duo of teen & veteran accompanied by a violin chorus, played another tune written for the Olympics: "Song of the Olympic Angel".

As one of the cultural activities leading up to the Games, the violin concert marked the clock's ticking down to 50 days before the opening ceremony.