The festival brought together thousands of international concours winners and gifted juvenile musicians of over 160 organizations from at least 40 countries including the DPRK.

The festival's opening performance was given at the theatre "House of Music" in Moscow on May 20.

Among the performers were children of 15 groups from the DPRK, Russia, Ukraine, Georgia and Uzbekistan.

Korean children including An Il Hun and Kim Ta Yon played the Korean folk song "Arirang" with refined skill and exciting rhythms.

When their playing was over, the audience broke into loud applause. At the audience's request for an encore, Korean children played "a collection of world famous songs," breaking the custom of the festival allowing one organization to present no more than a number.

After their presentation was encored, there were more requests for encore and enthusiastic applause.

Russian artistes and audience met the Korean children and congratulated them on their successful playing.

Shirman, executive section chief of the Vladimir Spibakov Charity Fund, said as follows:

The children's presentation was so splendid that it is hard to say that it was children's performance. It fully showcased the level of art education in the DPRK.

Professors at Moscow Tchaikovsky State Conservatory and members of the preparatory committee of the festival said they were deeply admired by the training of talents and the good educational policy in the DPRK, expressing hope that the DPRK would send many gifted juvenile artistes in the future.