BEIJING, Feb. 23 (xinhuanet)-- The 1st Beijing Nicolet International Flute Competition will kick off here on April 25 with a first prize of US$20,000 dollars.

    The competition takes its name from the Swiss flute performer A. Nicolet, who is ranked among the world's top three flute maestros, said competition chief organizer Chen Qiling.

    Chen, also a well-known flute performer in China, said the jury will be composed of 14 musicians and flute performers from China, Russia, France, Switzerland, Japan, Finland and Germany. A. Nicolet will be the chairman.

    The competition will be made up of four rounds and there will be prizes for the top three as well as special awards for the best young performers and best performers of Chinese pieces. During the two-week competition, some jury members will host master-classes, and prize-winners will also give concerts.

    In the past China has hosted many important musical competitions such as piano competitions and singing competitions. To display China's musical achievements, musical competitions held in China in recent years have reserved parts of the event for Chinese music. In the forthcoming flute competition, candidates will be requested to perform a new work by well-known Chinese composer Ye Xiaogang.

    Ye said the flute could portray people's regret and sadness better than any other wind instrument.

    In a special piece composed for the competition, Ye will try to convey common people's understanding of complex issues in life using the flute.

    Ye revealed to Xinhua that the work has almost been finished, and he plans to name it "December Chrysanthemum." The piece carrying intense emotion will test the performers' skill.

    The official website for the flute competition has been launched in five different languages -- Chinese, German, English, French and Japanese. Up to now, 107 candidates from nearly 30 countries and regions have applied for the competition.

    The flute competition in Beijing will be held every three years. At present, China has around 300,000 flute players.