Great Wall International Music Academy
The Great Wall International Music Academy, founded in 2005 and taking place annually in Beijing, China, was "the first festival of its kind to bring together the best of Western and Chinese musicians." It is a month-long classical music education summer institute for gifted string players aged 10 to 25 from China, the United States, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Europe and around the world. The academy began with a focus on strings only, founded by violinist Kurt Sassmannshaus, and added a piano department in 2013. Faculty come to Beijing for the academy from music  schools in Asia, America, and Europe. Academy students focus only on performing chamber music and solo repertoire. The academy takes place in a hotel complex outside of Beijing. Students and faculty perform daily concerts at the academy and several concerts in downtown Beijing throughout the month.