Several heavyweight musicians from Europe will perform and give master classes at the First Chamber Music Festival hosted by Greater Tainan City on Dec. 6-11, a cultural ambassador of Tainan County told the Central News Agency on Tuesday. Pianist Rueibin Chen said he and the county government's Department of Cultural Affairs have planned the music event to celebrate the merger and elevation of status of the Greater Tainan region. The music festival -- the first of its kind in southern Taiwan -- will be held immediately after the Dec. 4 election for mayors of the island's five major cities. Chen, a Taiwanese-Austrian musician, was brought up in Tainan as a child before he moved to Austria 30 years ago. He told selfnews he was excited to be able to invite renowned musicians, including violinist and conductor Manuel Briega from Spain, German cellist and conductor Peter Bruns, French violist Pierre Lenert and British violinist Justine Chen, to bring a musical sensation to southern Taiwan. During the six-day festival, chamber music groups from Europe and Asia will present a series of concerts at the Tainan County Music Hall. The sponsor will also select three chamber music groups, each with two to four young musicians aged between 16 and 28, to take the stage with the masters from Europe. 'It is a marvelous opportunity for local chamber music groups aspiring to have international encounters,' Chen said. Music groups interested in the contest should contact the Department of Cultural Affairs before Aug. 6, he added. 