Many of them would also audition at the Juilliard School and other top conservatories, and they have until May 1 to give Purchase their answer.

Her plans now include finishing high school and applying to Beijing's top conservatory.

Students have also gained access to some of America's top conservatories including Oberlin College and Ithaca College.

Bloomingdale faculty are active performing artists with advanced degrees from the world's top conservatories - seventy-five percent hold advanced degrees.

"I think her lasting legacy will be the boost she gave to the general quality of musicianship through the hiring of players from top conservatories," Mr. Horsley said.

Though not heard yet, this is widely reported to be a bright young group of players recently graduated from top conservatories.

Comprehensive tests to enter the top conservatories now attract nearly 200,000 students a year, compared with a few thousand annually in the 1980s, according to the Chinese Musicians Association.

The two finalists are both young men, both graduates of top conservatories.

Still a novice, he soon wound up at the Sibelius Academy here, Finland's top conservatory.

To organise an orchestra which draws its players from the top conservatories across Europe requires a great deal of organisation and forward planning.