On February 10, the "China-UK Partnership: Harmony Through Charity" series—jointly organised by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in the UK and the Lord Mayor's Appeal of the City of London—hosted the Chinese New Year Charity Concert at the historic Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London. President Lu Siqing attended the event along with student representatives from The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao (YMSQ) who were visiting the UK, and they were invited to perform at this special occasion.
The event brought together over 200 distinguished guests from both the political and business sectors of China and the UK to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Snake through music, while building charitable bridges between China and the UK for a shared prosperous future. Notable attendees included Minister Counsellor Wang Qi from the Chinese Embassy in the UK; Sir Charles Bowman, former Lord Mayor of London; David Buckley, Chairman of The Yehudi Menuhin School's Board of Governors; John McLean, Chairman of the China-Britain Business Council; Lu Siqing, internationally renowned violinist and President of YMSQ; Tasmin Little CBE, celebrated British violinist and Honorary Co-President of the Yehudi Menuhin School; Thomas Rosenkranz, Music Director of YMSQ; along with faculty and student representatives from both Schools in China and the UK.
Minister Counsellor Wang Qi of the Chinese Embassy in the UK extended Chinese New Year greetings to all distinguished guests attending the concert. He emphasized that while the Chinese New Year embodies the profound essence of Chinese culture, it has also evolved into a vital bridge for cultural exchange between China and the UK. This Chinese New Year concert, he noted, serves as a vivid demonstration of this cultural interaction. He expressed confidence that through continued deepening of people-to-people exchanges, the friendship between both nations would further strengthen, and wished for greater advancement in China-UK relations in the coming year, with lasting friendship between the peoples of both countries.
In his address, Sir Charles Bowman, former Lord Mayor of London, noted that China-UK relations had begun the year on a positive trajectory, with cultural exchange and philanthropic endeavors playing a vital role in fostering mutual understanding and social advancement. He emphasized that philanthropy not only embodies social responsibility but also serves as a bridge connecting different cultures and driving shared development. Through its charitable mission, the concert brought together forces from across society to collectively advance education, social welfare, and sustainable development.
President Lu Siqing, alongside his former classmate from The Yehudi Menuhin School, renowned British violinist Tasmin Little CBE, took to the stage to deliver a joint address. President Lu praised the growing cooperation between the two schools, stating that as an alumnus of The Yehudi Menuhin School, he felt deeply honoured to lead its only overseas institution. Since its establishment in 2022, The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao has achieved remarkable success in music education, cultivating globally-minded talent. Through exchanges between faculty and students, the two sister schools have established a close and fruitful partnership. The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao adheres to a holistic education philosophy, nurturing well-rounded individuals with exceptional musical talent, empathy, and a strong sense of social responsibility. This UK visit marks the first since the establishment of The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao, and President Lu commended the students for their dedication. He noted that the concert not only showcased the partnership between the two schools but also marked a significant milestone in China-UK cultural exchange.
Tasmin Little CBE remarked that the concert was not only a musical feast but also demonstrated music's power to transcend borders and connect cultures, vividly embodying the creativity and spirit of global collaboration advocated by Yehudi Menuhin. She expressed pride in The Yehudi Menuhin School's outstanding music education, which provides young musicians with strong professional foundations, and shared her pride in the young performers about to take the stage. She noted that if Maestro Menuhin were still alive today, he would be incredibly proud of these talented young musicians and delighted to witness the deepening cooperation between the two schools.
The evening's concert opened magnificently at Mansion House with two young musicians from The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao — Grade 10 trumpet student Wang Xiuran and Grade 9 piano student Wang Shenling. They performed The Shepherd Girl by Chinese composer Luo Ping, a piece rooted in the folk music traditions of Xinjiang. The trumpet's bright, resonant tones, supported by the piano's harmonious accompaniment, evoked a shepherd's flute at daybreak, painting a vivid musical landscape of vast grasslands. This distinctly Chinese piece set a spectacular opening to the evening's concert, earning enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Following this, students from The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao presented an array of masterful performances, with each musical display building upon the last to create an increasingly captivating atmosphere in the hall.
When young pianist Li Junjie gracefully took to the stage in white attire, a hushed reverence fell over the concert hall. His performance of Snowflakes by contemporary composer Zhang Chao featured notes that seemed to drift and dance across the black and white keys like winter snowflakes. His sensitive interpretation, pure devotion to the piano arts, and exceptional technical precision touched the hearts of all present. As the piece reached its climax, the piano's voice spoke with such poignant expression that it moved many in the audience to tears, drawing them into a poetic winter reverie.
Next, Grade 10 classical guitar student Sha Qianhao took to the stage, performing Impressions of China by Swedish composer and guitarist Johannes Möller. Under his fingertips, the guitar transcended its Western identity, transforming into the ethereal sounds of the guzheng, the bright tones of the pipa, and the lyrical voice of the erhu, while the essence of pingtan and traditional opera flowed from the six strings. As music crossed cultural boundaries, East met West in perfect harmony as he sketched a beautiful portrait of China through foreign eyes. This shy young man from Tianjin (China) unleashed tremendous power through his fingertips, immersing the London audience in a cross-cultural musical feast.
After a brief intermission, faculty members from The Yehudi Menuhin School led their students onto the stage to perform three classic chamber music works. The students' poised and confident stage presence, masterful technique, and seamless ensemble work brought the performance to new heights. As the final notes of Mendelssohn's Octet faded away, thunderous applause erupted through the hall, its enthusiastic echo lingering in Mansion House, which basked in the brilliance of this musical exchange.
A special highlight of the evening came when Li Junjie from The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao and Rebecca from The Yehudi Menuhin School joined forces to perform Brahms' Hungarian Dances as a piano duet. The young pianists moved with fluid grace across the keys, their interweaving fingers creating sparks of brilliance, combining wild, passionate dance rhythms with tender melodic transitions. Their precise coordination and fervent enthusiasm held the audience spellbound. In this moment, the musical aspirations of both schools intertwined, as the vision of "sister schools sharing a future" shone brilliantly on stage, with hundreds of guests witnessing this unforgettable moment.
As the concert's finale, President Lu Siqing and Music Director Thomas Rosenkranz from The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao delivered a surprise performance of Paganini's Sonata No. 5 in A Major. The piece, renowned for its passionate melodies and technical challenges, was masterfully interpreted through President Lu's profound artistry and exceptional skill, perfectly balancing fierce intensity with delicate sensitivity, power with subtlety. His fluid performance and passionate interpretation deeply moved the audience, drawing thunderous applause that brought the concert to a magnificent climax.
Following the concert, audience members eagerly congratulated the faculty and students from both schools, expressing amazement at the remarkable achievements of The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao in just over two years. The students' performances gave the British audience insight into the development of classical music in China, demonstrating both the inheritance of musical excellence and the vitality of young talent. These students are poised to become not only internationally recognized musicians but also ambassadors fostering cultural exchange between China and the world.
The event received significant coverage from China Daily and numerous mainstream British media outlets.
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