In June, Qingdao is caressed by gentle sea breezes and filled with the melodious sounds of music. On June 20th, the 2025 high school graduation ceremony and graduation concert of the Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao were grandly held at the Menuhin Hall. This was not only a glorious crowning of achievement but also a youthful echo filled with warmth and dreams.

· Imprints of Growth: The opening video encapsulated the precious moments of the 2025 graduates, narrating their reflections, aspirations for the future, deep gratitude towards teachers and classmates, and leaving heartfelt messages for younger students. Every frame was a true annotation of youth.

· President's Wisdom: Embrace Dreams, Move Forward with Gratitude
President Siqing Lu delivered heartfelt remarks to the graduates. He stated, "We are immensely proud of every graduate's outstanding achievements. Their continuation of studies at top conservatoires worldwide marks the successful practice of Menuhin's 'holistic education' philosophy. We will continue to be deeply committed to professional music education, optimize connections with international resources, attract and nurture more talented young musicians, and contribute core strength to building Qingdao into a 'music island', as well as to the inheritance and development of classical music art in China and the world." President Siqing extended sincere blessings to each graduate: "No matter where you are in the future, music will be your lifelong companion. May you shine on the international stage as cultural ambassadors, break through artistic boundaries with a lifelong learning spirit, and convey warmth through music with a grateful heart."

· Teachers' Words: Character, Exploration, and Inner Melodies
Violin Associate Professor Tymur Melnyk, speaking on behalf of all faculty, expressed appreciation and pleasure in his gaze, highly affirming the graduates' dazzling growth in both exquisite skills and humanistic qualities. He emphasized that the essence of "holistic education" practiced at YMSQ lies not only in cultivating highly skilled musicians but also in shaping future art leaders with complete personalities, broad visions, and warm hearts. Tymur Melnyk also shared five heartfelt words of wisdom: be true to yourself, treat others kindly, remain curious, value collaboration, and surpass yourself—echoing the school's core values.

· Parents' Gratitude: Home-School Co-Education, Lifting Dreams
Jing Haoran's father, as the parent representative, expressed heartfelt recognition and gratitude for the school's educational philosophy and outcomes in his speech, recounting the importance of the "home-school co-education" concept in the cultivation and development of young people, especially music students. All parents will work together with the school under the "holistic education" philosophy to protect and uplift the children's lofty dreams.

· Alumni Connection: Passing the Torch, Heartfelt Ties to Alma Mater

· Gao Yuxuan, a 2024 graduate, shared as an alumni representative how she overcame nervousness and built confidence at YMSQ, and kindly reminded the younger to cherish their time at school, as the "tailored, hand-in-hand" teaching and support will become the strongest force for future overseas studies.

· Even more inspiring was Li Minglun's initiative on behalf of this year's graduates to establish an alumni association. The association will unite and gather the strength of all graduates from YMSQ, contributing in various aspects such as connecting resources with domestic and international universities and conservatoires, assisting subsequent graduates in further studies and development, expanding the alma mater's brand and influence worldwide, and actively participating in the alma mater's activities and performances.

· Moments of Glory: Harvest, Gratitude, and a Ten-Year Pact

· President Siqing Lu presented graduation certificates to each graduate, capturing the brightest moments of youth. The memorable souvenirs and cards were also cherished by the graduates.

· Director of Music Thomas Rosenkranz also announced two annual awards on site:
Recipients of the "2025 Dongrun Stardust Excellent Graduate Scholarship": Wang Weikuan, Jing Haoran, Li Minglun
Recipients of the "2025 Dongrun Stardust Excellent Teacher Award": Associate Professor Tymur Melnyk, Associate Professor Wang You, Teacher Wang Boyang
These substantial awards were presented by Li Yang, Secretary-General of the Dongrun Foundation, vividly illustrating the young YMSQ continuous attention and support from all sectors of society. Sincere respect is paid to public welfare forces represented by the Dongrun Foundation.

· As graduates presented flowers to their beloved teachers, deep hugs, bright smiles, and happy tears intertwined into a deeply touching ocean of love, expressing the inexpressible teacher-student affection.

· The most heartfelt highlight of the event—the "Meet in 10 Years · Let the Alma Mater Witness" time capsule sealing ceremony. Graduates solemnly placed letters written to their future selves into a time capsule to be reopened after ten years, sealing their dreams and expectations at this moment. The alma mater will be the eternal guardian of this youthful pact.

Graduation Concert: Chapters on Fingertips, A Tribute of Youth

The subsequent graduation concert was an artistic tribute from the graduating students to their alma mater and youth. Graduates, together with teachers and current students who have not yet graduated, presented a high-level concert.

· Diverse Performances, Blossoming Talent: From Anton Arensky's profound and introspective piano quintet to Piazzolla's free-spirited "History of the Tango"; from Franz Danzi's elegant and refined bassoon concerto to Prokofiev's modern and lively "Five Melodies"; Chopin's poetic "Nocturne in B Major" and Assad's colorful guitar suite complemented each other, showcasing solid skills and the artistic comprehension of future musicians.

· Shining Moment of a Dual-Degree Scholar: Wang Weikuan not only demonstrated his superb skills in playing Paganini's "Caprices" on viola but also passionately performed an excerpt from the well-known violin concerto "Butterfly Lovers" pushing the concert to a climax and highlighting his extraordinary strength as a student admitted to the Juilliard School with dual majors.

· Charm of Chamber Music: A ensemble group consisting of violin, viola, cello, piano, and horn students (Wang Weikuan, Jing Haoran, Luo Zhiyuan, Kuang Yihao, Wang Zikang, Yi Miyangguang) perfectly performed "Fishermen's Song," adapted from classic Chinese melodies. Amidst the flowing notes, the art of listening, dialogue, and collaboration was perfectly interpreted, embodying the essence of nurturing in the chamber music department.

· Heartfelt Surprise, Touching Inheritance

· Cellist Family: One of the most touching moments arrived. Professor Yu Mingqing, head of the cello department, led all faculty and students of the cello department onto the stage like a warm family, jointly performing "Dear You". The large screen simultaneously displayed slow-flowing images of daily practice, laughter, and mutual assistance among teachers and students. The moving cello sounds and warm scenes filled the concert hall with deep affection, moving many audience members to tears.

· Time Tunnel, Relay of Youth: Creativity and emotion merged at this moment. As Music Director Thomas Rosenkranz's piano sounds arose, 9-year-old violin student Lv Jin'ang expressed blessings to the graduates with a clear child's voice; the background screen simultaneously flashed the graduates' naive appearances at age 9. Next, trumpet student Liu Yinglu sent a message; the screen switched to the graduates' youthful figures in 11th grade. Finally, conservatoire application guidance teacher Yu Yang expressed heartfelt wishes to the graduates; the large screen magically reproduced the teachers from various departments in their prime at age 18! The images and words of three generations intertwined and overlapped on stage, like a fantastic "time tunnel," allowing everyone to witness the unceasing inheritance of the musical lineage and the eternal power of youthful dreams! The audience applauded thunderously and continuously, moved by the passage of time, the journey of growth, and this unparalleled deep affection.

· Epilogue: Eternal Heartlight, Bright Path Ahead

The concert concluded with the pure and beautiful singing of the chorus. Under the baton of Teacher Dong Lei, the chorus performed the African-American song "This Little Light of Mine", with warm melodies lingering in the air, expressing the deepest blessings: Dear graduates, the sky is vast, and life is boundless. May you bravely move forward with your youthful dreams, letting the light in your hearts shine forever!

From Between Mountains and Sea, Towards the World Stage

Since its establishment three years ago, the Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao, under the joint efforts of President Siqing Lu and all musicians and educators, has successfully built a high-end music talent cultivation system that integrates Chinese and Western elements, connects professional and humanistic aspects, and deeply links with top international educational resources. The annual graduation ceremony and concert are not only a grand review of the students' periodic achievements but also the starting point for their journey from Qingdao, the "music island," to the world stage. Between mountains and sea, this ship carrying musical dreams will continue to surge forward, uplifting more young artistic souls and playing a magnificent chapter belonging to the future!

Congratulations to all graduates of the 2025 class! May you always retain the purest love and sincerity for music, continuing to play the chapters of your lives in the vast world. No matter how high you fly or how far you go, the Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao—will always await your return and blossoming!

【2025 Autumn Enrollment Now Open】
Welcome young kids with music dreams to join this large family filled with love and talent!