In 2012, Prof. Wang Cizhao, President of Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and Prof. Karl Kramer, Dean of Sydney Conservatorium of Music at the University of Sydney jointly proposed the establishment of the Asia Pacific Music Summit of the leading tertiary music schools from the Asia Pacific region, with the aim of creating closer ties between the music conservatories, enhancing multi-lateral exchange and deepening the internationalization development. The Music Schools should represent the top musical level of cultivation and performance of their countries and enjoy outstanding high reputation at home and abroad. Therefore, the conservatories they finally selected are the Central Conservatory of Music and Shanghai Conservatory Of Music in mainland China, Sydney Conservatorium of Music at the University of Sydney and College of the Arts and Conservatorium of Music at the Melbourne University in Australia, San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Thornton School of Music at University of Southern California in the U.S., School of Music, University of Auckland from New Zealand, College of Music at Seoul National University in South Korea, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music at National University of Singapore, Faculty of Music at the Tokyo University of the Arts from Japan, School of Music at Taipei National University of the Arts and School of Music at Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Leaders of these institutions have annual meeting, not only sharing successful experience on building up the conservatories but also exchange views on challenges facing in music education and international development. Every representative could share personal views on many issues, draw up visions and learn from each one’s precious advantages. The summit normally lasts 3 to 4 days with several sessions.
The inaugural summit was held at the Boardroom of Sydney Opera House from 2 to 6 April, 2014 and the group had been formally recognized as Pacific Alliance of Music Schools (PAMS). After discussion, all delegates agreed that the next summit for PAMS would be held in Beijing from 8 to 12 April, 2015 with the theme of “Pedagogy and Performance of String Instruments”.
