From June 5th to 10th, Benjamin David Gudgeon, Headmaster of The Yehudi Menuhin School, accompanied by Ashley Jonathan Wass, Music Director for both schools, conducted a six-day inspection and advisory visit to our institution.
Ever since the establishment of The Yehudi Menuhin School's sole international branch in Qingdao, China, the two schools have fostered a close collaborative relationship with regular professional exchanges. Despite the challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has persisted for three years, a majority of the guidance and meetings were effectively managed online. The dedicated and cooperative efforts of both parties ensured a smooth initiation of the school, leading to numerous notable achievements.
The Birth of a ‘Legend’
Benjamin and Ashley made their inaugural visit to The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao for a comprehensive site inspection. Expressing his delight, Benjamin stated, “Nestled in a picturesque seaside park in Qingdao, the school boasts striking architecture, world-class facilities, and optimal learning conditions that are both functional and comprehensive. This is a truly exhilarating development. I find myself envying the educators and learners privileged to utilise these resources daily. As I explore the campus, I'm struck by the evident pride of the students, the enthusiasm of the teaching staff, and the swift recognition from the international community following its inception. Our initial graduating class has been accepted into renowned global music academies, a feat achieved within an astonishingly brief timeframe and amidst various adversities, including the ongoing pandemic. This could indeed be described as the emergence of a ‘legend’.
A Packed Schedule of Collaborative Work
Upon their arrival, Benjamin and Ashley plunged directly into an almost non-stop working rhythm. Beyond the thorough inspection and all-encompassing work assessments they conducted at the school, they also held productive meetings with multiple teams, including the music faculty, academic faculty, Cambridge programme team, admissions team, pastoral care team, senior leadership team, and facilities management team. All this was achieved within a few short days. Benjamin shared insights and answered queries regarding various aspects of academic education and school management, while Ashley focused on engaging everyone on the topic of music education. They jointly expressed their appreciation for the dedication and enthusiasm exhibited by their colleagues in Qingdao, feeling the time for this visit was too short and they were not ready to pause.
The Yehudi Menuhin School has always accorded equal importance to academic subjects and music study. While in Qingdao, Benjamin and Ashley immersed themselves in the educational environment, observing multiple music and Cambridge curriculum classes, and participating in teaching discussions around string, brass, and keyboard specialties. Ashley outlined the reasons why The Yehudi Menuhin School has carved a unique global identity and made substantial contributions to the development of classical music worldwide. He shared the five core values that have underpinned the school's ethos for its 60-year history: Integrity, Community, Intellectual Curiosity, Kindness, and the Pursuit of Excellence.
The pair conducted face-to-face interactions with the students, lending a willing ear to their perspectives and concerns. Along with President Lu Siqing, they co-chaired a Sino-British joint school meeting to discuss and strategize the future key tasks of the school. They graced the inaugural graduation ceremony and concert with inspiring speeches. In addition, Ashley conducted an exclusive master class for all teachers and students at the school, which was met with great enthusiasm.
Following the series of intense working sessions, Benjamin and Ashley provided comprehensive guidance and will consolidate their findings into a detailed report after their return to the UK. This will greatly assist in enhancing the overall quality of the Qingdao school. Recognizing that, as a newly established school, there are naturally many areas needing refinement, they committed to devising solutions and working in tandem with their Qingdao counterparts to implement these improvements.
Lastly, Benjamin and Ashley met with key figures including Wang Luming, Director of the Standing Committee of the Qingdao Municipal People's Congress, and Jiang Yuanshao, Deputy Secretary of the Qingdao Municipal Education Work Committee and Director of the Qingdao Municipal Education Bureau. They expressed their profound gratitude for the ongoing support and assistance provided by the Qingdao municipal administration and various supervisory departments to The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao.
Collaborative Endeavors of Sister Schools
During the course of their inspection, Benjamin and Ashley reflected on the increasing ease of international travel with the gradual resolution of the pandemic situation. Upon their return to the UK, they plan to involve more teachers from The Yehudi Menuhin School in the educational processes in Qingdao. They also aim to extend invitations to colleagues from the Qingdao school for visits, interactions, and training sessions in the UK, fostering a mutually beneficial exchange of resources, academic insights, teaching methodologies, and managerial strategies. Further, they envision organizing student exchange programs and joint performances during opportune periods such as the summer holidays, an initiative expected to be advantageous for all participating students.
Formulating New Commitments
The comprehensive six-day evaluation passed in the blink of an eye, leaving both educators and students at The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao filled with renewed confidence and aspiration for the institution's future trajectory. As the visit drew to a close, Benjamin and Ashley shared heartfelt sentiments, expressing that the journey to the Qingdao campus was replete with pleasant surprises and profound emotion. They voiced unwavering confidence in the Qingdao school and pledged to reconvene with the entire team in the near future. With one institution boasting six decades of history and the other merely a year old, both schools committed to a collaborative march towards a future brimming with promise and anticipation!