In the afternoon of Nov. 15th, 2007, "Signing Ceremony for Collaboration between Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and Arnold Schoenberg Center in Vienna" was held in CCOM. Prof. Xu Changjun, the Vice President of CCOM, Dr. Christian Meyer, the director of Schoenberg Center in Vienna, Prof. Dai Jiafang, the director of Institute of Musicology of CCOM, Prof. Tang Jianping, the Chair of Composition Department, Prof. Ye Xiaogang, the Vice Chair of Composition Department, and Prof. Liu Hongzhu, the Deputy Director of President's Office of Conservatory, and other representatives attended the ceremony. Prof. Dai Jiafang hosted the signing ceremony.
In the ceremony, the Vice President Xu Changjun, on behalf of President Wang Cizhao and the CCOM, cordially welcomed Dr. Meyer and expressed high expectation for the coming series of collaborative projects between the Conservatory and Schoenberg Center. He stated further that the significance of this collaboration is profound. It is not only because Arnold Schoenberg 's compositions and his music ideas have exerted undoubtedly important influences on the modern music composition since the twentieth century, but also because it is a precious chance for the Conservatory to connect directly to Schoenberg 's legacy. We believe that the collaboration between us will deeply promote the development on Schoenberg study and his compositions' performance, and the study of modern music in CCOM and other music conservatories in China.
Prof. Tang and Prof. Ye also gave speeches. Prof. Ye especially mentioned the "Symposium of Austrian composer: Arnold Schoenberg 's music and his artistic idea" and the "concert of Schoenberg 's works" held in May during 2007 Beijing Modern Music Festival, Chinese scholars' papers and musicians' performances were fully presented their academic strength on Schoenberg Study. In addition, the events in May were also the starting moment for the Conservatory to negotiate the collaborative intention with Schoenberg Center.
In Dr. Meyer's speech, he introduced the process of initiation and consultation, emphasized that, without the contact between Prof. Neff and Prof. Ye in May and Prof. Jin Ping's "serious and enthusiastic" efforts on this project, we wouldn't be able to seat here today and to sign the formal memorandum. Then, he mentioned that, Schoenberg Center has established harmonious collaborative relationship with music institutes in Japan and South Korea, and it is the Center's first collaborative project in China. The formal relationship's establishment between the Center and the Conservatory caused by the increasing influences of Chinese music, especially many Chinese composers and musicians' musical activities drew wide attentions in Austria in the past decade. Another important reason was that, Sch?nberg's family, especially his second son Lawrence Schoenberg, were always looking for a chance to collaborate with Chinese artists. All the reasons above make the Schoenberg Center to be fully confident for the collaboration. In the end of speech, Dr. Meyer stressed, he believes that many Chinese musicians, composers and musicologists will be benefited a great deal from further understanding and study on Arnold Schoenberg and the Second Viennese School through the promotion of the collaborative projects between Schoenberg Center and Central Conservatory of Music. 
The contents of memorandum include establishing Schoenberg Study Center in CCOM; Schoenberg Center in Vienna and CCOM will co-sponsor the competitions and invite winners to attend master classes in Austria; and other events, such as scholar exchanges, workshops, seminars, public performances, and large exhibitions, etc. In details, Dr. Meyer introduced that they already prepared 50,000 Euro budget for the coming events in next three to five years. The first formal collaborative project will start at the forthcoming "CCOM Music Festival" opened next month. In the spring of 2009, the exhibition of Arnold Schoenberg's manuscripts, pictures, paintings and historical photographs presented by CCOM, CAFA (Central Academy of Fine Arts) and Schoenberg Center will be the highlight of this period's collaborative projects.
Followed the speech, Dr. Meyer presented the gifts of Schoenberg Center to the Conservatory, which include the introduction volume of Schoenberg Center in Vienna and two important books related to Schoenberg, Arnold Schoenberg: Theory of Harmony and A Schoenberg Reader: Documents of a Life. The later book includes numerous original materials and Prof. Joseph Auner's valuable commentary and does not having a Chinese version yet. Therefore, the Chinese translation of this book will be another important focus in the future projects. The Vice President Xu Changjun also presented the gifts to Schoenberg Center, which include one DVD consisted of CCOM introduction and concerts by Conservatory's professors and students, the volume of 2007 Beijing Modern Music Festival in which having the introduction of "Schoenberg Study Symposium", a handicraft with CCOM's logo, and Chamber music scores composed by five CCOM professors.
In the end, the representatives of Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and Schoenberg Center in Vienna, 
Prof. Xu Changjun and Dr. Christian Meyer, solemnly signed memorandum in collaboration, which means the collaboration between two institutes will last for a long term. The both sides believe that the execution of the collaborative projects will provide strong support for Chinese scholars' Schoenberg study and modern music composition study and make a profound influence in the future.
The Schoenberg Study Center will attach to the Institute of Musicology of CCOM, which is the key study base of Humanities and Social Science affiliated to the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China.
P.S. The web site of Schoenberg Center in Vienna (see following address) has been linked to the web site of Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing:
http://www.schoenberg.at/default_e.htm
