In the Soviet Union young musicians from 37 countries have been gathering in Moscow for the Sixth Tchaikovsky music tournament.

SYNOPSIS: The participants in the piano section gathered early at the Moscow Conservatory on the opening day.

Among them were American pianist Eugene Rowley........
Indonesian pianist Jahja Mursalim....
Japanese pianist Momioko Nishino with American James Adler.....

And Brazilian pianist Diana Kacso.

Soviet composer and Chairman of the Tournament Organising Committee Tikhon Khrennikov welcomed the contestants, speaking in Russian with English and French interpretations. During the tournament more than 280 pianists, violinists, cellists and singers will compete for the huge international prestige a place among the winners can bring. Musicians from Indonesia, Madagascar and Turkey are taking part for the first time.

The first day of the tournament started with a running order ballot among the large number of pianists taking part. Elizbeta Karas-Krastel of Poland was the first to choose -- followed by other young hopefuls from all over the world.

During the final stages of the competition the participants will play with the best Soviet symphony orchestras.

After the ballot contestants in the tournament went together to the Tchaikovsky memorial in Moscow to lay a wreath at the monument to the greatest Russian composer of them all.

Peter IIch Tchaikovsky was born in 1840. Today his works are considered without equal for their melodic inspiration, romantic imagination, and brilliant orchestration. He is also regarded as a master composer for ballet, with such renowned works as Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty.