From January 10th to 14th, the inaugural Violin Art Week at The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao was a resounding success. Carefully prepared by Professor Wang Hong, Head of the Violin Department, Associate Professor Tymur Melnyk, and the entire department faculty, the week featured a series of diverse activities, including violin professional discussions, master classes, exclusive concerts, and educational salons.

Lu Siqing Violin Studio Launch

During the Art Week, the Lu Siqing Violin Studio was officially launched. President Lu Siqing also kicked off the first master class of the week, providing invaluable insights and encouragement to both students and teachers. He emphasized, “The best performance is one where the technique is imperceptible. The focus should be on expressing the art of violin through music.” His master class went beyond technical analysis, guiding students to explore the rich and nuanced world of music from the perspectives of great masters. 

Guest professors for the Art Week included Huang Mengmeng, Professor at the Central Conservatory of Music and Visiting Professor of Piano Art at The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao; Chen Xi, Professor of Violin at the Central Conservatory of Music; and Jiang Gongbo, Violin and Chamber Music Teacher at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Each brought their expertise to the master classes, offering comprehensive guidance to the YMSQ students.

The educational salons during the Art Week focused on the development trends of violin education both domestically and internationally, the expectations and concerns of music schools for young violin learners, and the development plans for these young musicians. These discussions provided valuable insights for students, teachers, and parents.

On the evening of January 13th, one of the highlights of the inaugural Violin Art Week was a special concert celebrating the launch of the Lu Siqing Violin Studio. President Lu Siqing, along with faculty and students, delivered a spectacular performance in the Menuhin Hall, both for the live audience and online viewers.

The concert featured perfect renditions of classic pieces such as Mascagni’s "Intermezzo" from Cavalleria Rusticana, Wieniawski’s Theme and Variations, Karaev’s Lullaby and Dance, Leclair’s Sonata for Two Violins No. 5, and Shostakovich’s Five Pieces for Two Violins. Additionally, President Lu Siqing and Professor Huang Mengmeng passionately performed Brahms’ Scherzo and an impromptu rendition of the classic Butterfly Lovers Concerto. Their performance, hailed as one of the most outstanding interpretations of the piece, brought the audience to their feet in applause.

The concert concluded with President Lu Siqing and all the violin students from The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao performing Mendelssohn’s On Wings of Song and New Spring Music, celebrating the upcoming Lunar New Year and sending festive greetings to all attendees.