On March 16, the inaugural Music Education Development Forum, hosted by The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao and involving many primary and secondary schools in the city as well as domestic and international musicians and educators, was grandly held. The forum's theme was "The Vision and Mission of Music Education," and it featured a series of professional and enriching activities, including themed forums, special reports, seminar discussions, master class demonstrations, and joint concerts.

The forum attracted musicians and educators from various institutions, including the China Musicians Association, Central Conservatory of Music, Sichuan Conservatory of Music, Xiamen Music School, Xiamen Gulangyu Music School, Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra, Chongqing Symphony Orchestra, Shandong Academy of Arts, Henan Normal University, Guangxi Arts University, and Shenzhen Arts School. Also participating were the Head of the Visual and Performing Arts Department and Professors from Hotchkiss School in the USA, principals, orchestra leaders, teachers, students, and parents from various primary and secondary schools in Qingdao, as well as officials from the Qingdao Municipal Education Bureau, West Coast New Area Education and Sports Bureau, and Culture and Tourism Bureau.

President Lv Siqing of The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao announced the opening of the forum and delivered a welcome speech. He mentioned that in Qingdao, many dedicated music educators work tirelessly, with active support from various departments and participation from musicians and educators worldwide. All these efforts continually inject new vitality and motivation into the development of music education in Qingdao, painting a brighter future for the "Island of Music." In his opening speech, Han Dong, a member of the Qingdao Municipal Education Bureau Party Committee and Deputy Director, stated that in recent years, music education in Qingdao's primary and secondary schools has flourished, consistently nurturing excellent young musical talents who go on to prestigious institutions worldwide. The establishment of The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao has significantly propelled the development of the "Island of Music." This forum is expected to promote the sharing, building, and co-development of high-quality music education resources across the city, elevating youth music education in Qingdao to new heights.

In the main forum session, deputy head Mark Stringer, Professor Fabio Witkowski, Head of the Visual and Performing Arts Department and Director of the Student Orchestra at Hotchkiss School, and Professor Na Mula, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and renowned cellist, and Principal of the Central Conservatory of Music Middle School, delivered reports on "Music Education and the Cultivation of Children's Imagination and Creativity," "Student Orchestras and Character Education in High School," and "The Value and Challenges of Music Education," respectively. These reports provided professional insights into youth music education from various perspectives. Concurrently, two sub-forums focused on "International Perspectives and Local Practices in Music Education" and "Customized Music Curriculum Planning and Execution." Participants included experts from Hotchkiss School and principals and research staff from several primary and secondary schools in Qingdao, who shared practical wisdom and explored innovative methods in music education, offering fresh and comprehensive cutting-edge viewpoints for youth music education development and discipline construction.

The forum also featured master classes in piano, cello, chamber music, orchestral conducting, and comprehensive musicianship. Renowned educators from both domestic and international backgrounds provided hands-on guidance to local student orchestras and music students in Qingdao. The participating young music enthusiasts expressed that such public classes gave them the precious opportunity to learn directly from esteemed masters, significantly enhancing their professional skills.

At the closing concert held in the evening, all participants gathered in the Menuhin Hall. The concert featured classic pieces for strings, piano, wind instruments, and chamber music, jointly performed by our school’s teachers and students, showcasing an academic, artistic, and exemplary teaching achievement concert. The concert also included a captivating performance of four-hand and duo piano pieces by Fabio Witkowski and Gisele Witkowski from Hotchkiss School, displaying magnificent and spectacular musical effects. The final surprise was a collaborative piece by Principal Lv Siqing and the two masters, Fabio and Gisele Witkowski, which delighted the audience.

Qingdao TV, Dazhong Daily, Qingdao Daily, Phoenix News (Feng), and Bandao News reported on the forum, unanimously praising the rapid development of youth music education in Qingdao. Many primary and secondary schools have established orchestras with excellent faculty, continuously nurturing a large number of outstanding young musical talents. Since the establishment of The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao, it has quickly gained influence both domestically and internationally, becoming a crucial part of the city's cultural strategy as the "Island of Music." This forum has fully demonstrated Qingdao's outstanding achievements in music education and its limitless potential for the future.