Last term saw our longstanding partnership with the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing flourish, culminating in a fantastic joint performance with students from Chetham’s. We also received a generous gift of incredible Chinese instruments, including a pipa, guzheng, erhu and several bamboo flutes. We can’t wait to hear them at some upcoming events, including our Relaxed Lunchtime Concert on 5 Feb and our Chinese mythology-themed Mini Music Adventures on 29 March.
Chetham’s has been welcoming full-time Chinese students for over 20 years. We are a truly international community, with around 10% of our students and staff joining us from overseas, and over 40 languages spoken across the school. Staff even have the opportunity to learn Mandarin through weekly lunchtime lessons.
Young Chinese musicians wanting to study at Chetham’s have always had to audition online or make the tiring and costly trip to Manchester, sometimes alone. That is until now.
In December, Joint Principal Tom Redmond and Assistant Principal Nick Jones travelled 6,000 miles across the world to visit three Chinese cities: Beijing, where they were wowed by the dynamism of the country’s immense capital city; Xi’an, where they learnt about the history of the Silk Road; and Shenzhen, where the views from atop the world’s fifth-tallest tower took their breath away. At each location, the pair held in-person auditions for around 10 aspiring musicians. A first for Chetham’s, this meant we could hear their talents at their best while also meeting their families and answering their questions.
Mr Redmond and Mr Jones were impressed by the singers, pianists and string players they auditioned. “They all played really well,” says Mr Jones. “We were quite surprised by the age range as well, with several being quite young. We heard some very intelligent music-making.” The prospective students and their families were pleased to know that Manchester already has a vibrant Chinese community, as does Chetham’s itself.
They also connected with our philosophy at Chetham’s of providing a holistic education within a nurturing environment. “Everyone we met liked the idea that, while music is at our core, it’s not all we do,” says Mr Jones. “Students at Chetham’s have all sorts of opportunities beyond music, and by the time they graduate, they know they have options and choices: whether to go to a conservatoire, a university or somewhere else; whether to continue studying music or pursue something else.”
Since returning from China, Mr Redmond and Mr Jones have made offers to several of the young musicians who auditioned. We look forward to welcoming them to Chetham’s soon! We wish our students and the wider community a happy and prosperous Chinese New Year – 新年快乐!
Interested in studying at Chetham’s? Read our Mandarin-language prospectus and see more information for international applicants.