Six years of persistence has brought a global music competition to Beijing, that its founder hopes will continue for many years to come. Sun Ye reports.

On the day when he had his biggest sense of accomplishment, Zhang Yong was heavily in debt.

When he stepped onto the podium at the Beijing Concert Hall the evening of Nov 14, his shirt was dirty. His tie was borrowed. In fact, he had taken it from one of the fellow judges upon arrival before he rushed across the aisle and made his emotional speech.