Recently, the celebrated hornist and educator Professor Wei Zhengqi has officially joined The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao as Professor of Horn.

Professor Wei Zhengqi is a distinguished musician who holds a prominent position in the Chinese horn community, and a key figure who introduced Chinese horn artistry into the inner circles of European classical music. Since receiving a scholarship from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1986 to pursue advanced studies in France, he has resided in Paris for over three decades. He studied under André Cazalet, principal horn of the Orchestre de Paris, acquiring an in-depth mastery of the horn teaching system of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP). He also became the first Asian alumnus to serve as a graduation jury member in the history of the Conservatoire. At the same time, his exceptional artistry earned him the lifetime position of Principal Horn with the Orchestre de Chambre de Nouvelle-Aquitaine, where he accumulated more than thirty years of performance experience with a world-class orchestra.

Professor Wei's arrival is of great significance to the development of our brass department. Prior to this, our horn programme already featured distinguished teachers from the German school tradition. With Professor Wei joining us, the horn faculty now unites both of the major European horn teaching traditions—the German and the French—creating a richly complementary pedagogical environment. This also means that students can, without ever leaving the Qingdao campus, gain direct, first-hand access to the authentic training methods of the world's leading conservatoires.

Professor Wei is not only an outstanding performer, but also an educator with profound insight into the nurturing of young talent. He will provide students of The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao with personalised professional guidance, helping them overcome technical challenges and enhance their musical expression. Furthermore, drawing on the extensive resources and international influence he has built over his long tenure as a jury member at the CNSMDP, he will offer robust support to students who aspire to pursue further studies in France and across Europe.