The summer of graduation brings back the sound of music from afar. Those young dreamers who once pursued their aspirations here will return to the stage of their alma mater. "Returning Melodies · Chasing Light" — the 2026 Alumni Concert Series of Qingdao Yehudi Menuhin School — thus begins. Li Minglun, classical guitar major at The Juilliard School; Jing Haoran, violin major at Manhattan School of Music; Wang Weikuan, admitted to both violin and viola programs at The Juilliard School; Li Hao, from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music at the National University of Singapore; Wang Qianwen, from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire; Liao Enhui, from the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus, Denmark… They return from leading institutions around the world to present four concerts, offering their music to the alma mater and to music lovers in their home city —
May 29, Menuhin Hall
Li Minglun & Qi Honggu Joint Concert
A duo of classical guitar and celloJune 12, Menuhin Hall
Jing Haoran "Wordless Romance" Solo Recital
A melodic letter posted from ManhattanJune 29, Menuhin Hall
"Gathering Melodies from the Long River" Menuhin Alumni Concert
Featuring strings, winds, piano, and multiple departmentsJuly 1, Qingdao Concert Hall
"Scales of Time" Concert by Young Overseas Musicians
Moving from campus to the city's cultural landmark, continuing the school's public‑spirited tradition of "art serving the city," allowing music to nourish a wider audience.
It seems only yesterday that we celebrated their joy upon receiving offers from top institutions. Now, they return with the fruits of their overseas studies, offering their most heartfelt graduation blessings to their younger schoolmates. The Class of 2026 has once again achieved outstanding results: 27 graduates received 75 offers from the world's leading arts institutions, with total scholarships amounting to nearly 30 million RMB. Across four graduating cohorts, nearly 100% of our graduates have entered QS Top 20 music schools worldwide. President Lü Siqing once remarked: "Classical music must be passed on. Only when generations of outstanding talents continue to emerge can art maintain its creativity and vitality." These four concerts are a vivid embodiment of this legacy—not only showcasing the educational achievements of Qingdao Menuhin, but also transcending the notion that "graduation means farewell," by uniting alumni resources to support current students, bringing high‑quality classical music to more people, and infusing youthful energy into Qingdao's identity as the "City of Music."
Opening Concert: Li Minglun & Qi Honggu Joint Concert
On May 29, the first to return is Li Minglun, a 2025 alumnus in classical guitar. He will bring us a musical dialogue spanning mountains and seas. About this homecoming performance, Li Minglun has written the following:
"Dear teachers, fellow students, and friends: How time flies. It has already been a year since my graduation concert at Menuhin Hall. Now, as I pursue further studies at The Juilliard School in the United States, I am filled with joy, nostalgia, and anticipation to perform again at my alma mater this summer. The campus by the blue sea, the mentors who have guided me along the way, the dear classmates who have shared this journey, and all the treasured memories from my student years—all remain deeply engraved in my heart. I have also invited my close friend and fellow townsman, Qi Honggu, currently a cello student at the Colburn School in the United States, along with Niu Haozheng, an outstanding Grade 9 cello student at our school, Xu Jingxuan, the youngest finalist in the Paganini International Violin Competition, and Du Junyan from the Middle School attached to the Central Conservatory of Music, to join me on stage. Through our music, we will express our experiences and reflections during our studies abroad, and convey our most sincere gratitude to our alma mater."
What makes this concert most moving is the power of intergenerational continuity. Associate Professor Wang You, Li Minglun's principal instructor during his time at the school and a classical guitar faculty member, will also lead ten current classical guitar students from Grades 5 to 11 in performing Austin Tango. From students who are still growing, to alumni who have gone out into the world, to the dedicated teachers who have nurtured them—a single guitar connects the musical dreams of three generations.
