Harmony Across Borders: Chinese Music Comes to Manchester
At Chetham’s, Creative Engagement is driven by a simple mission: to bring the joy of music to as many people as possible. Our evolving partnership with the Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM) — China’s national music academy — embodies that mission beautifully, creating opportunities to share the rich traditions of Chinese music with communities across Greater Manchester and beyond.
In January, we were delighted to welcome Rachel Qin, a Chinese student from the University of Manchester, to perform the pipa during our KS2 online workshops. Designed for children aged 7–11, these interactive sessions introduce young learners to a wide range of musical instruments, styles and ideas from around the world. Rachel returned to perform again in our Relaxed Lunchtime Concert in February, held as part of our Chinese New Year celebrations. The concert featured a Q&A with the performer and gave audience members the chance to try out a variety of traditional Chinese instruments — generously gifted to Chetham’s by the Central Conservatory of Music.
Storyteller Faz Shah holding a precious dragon pearl
March brought further highlights, as Chetham’s students collaborated with Zi Lan Liao from Pagoda Arts to create a new Mini Music Adventure, part of our Creative Engagement families programme. Aimed at children aged 5–7, each adventure offers a musical journey through storytelling and culture. In this edition, staged in the Carole Nash Hall, our students performed on both Chinese and Western musical instruments as Faz Shah narrated Naya and the Pearl of Life, a tale inspired by Chinese dragon mythology.
The adventure extended throughout the building, as younger students brought Chinese folk stories to life with a shadow puppet performance of Journey to the West in the Oglesby Atrium. Families enjoyed hands-on activities, including the chance to cut out and decorate their own puppets as keepsakes. This imaginative event was conceived and conducted by Mimi Jiang from CCOM, and left a lasting impression on both performers and audience alike.
Mimi Jiang and Lower School students performing Journey to the West
Reflecting on the partnership, Vicki Ciaputa, Creative Engagement Manager at Chetham’s, shared:
“The collaboration with the Central Conservatory of Music gives Chetham’s the opportunity to share the beauty of traditional Chinese music with children, young musicians and communities in Greater Manchester who would otherwise not experience it.
We are grateful to CCOM for the traditional instruments that have been gifted to Chetham’s to continue our students’ passion for Chinese music, and hope to share them with schoolchildren across Greater Manchester in the future.
We look forward to continuing our work with CCOM on music education projects in the UK, sharing our best practice and promoting the joy of music, wherever it comes from in the world.”
Sophia Kuai, Director of the Chinese Music Classroom at Chetham’s, added:
“We are proud to collaborate with Chetham’s to share the beauty of traditional Chinese music with young musicians, and are deeply encouraged to find it being embraced by local communities across Greater Manchester. The response affirms our shared belief in the power of music to foster intercultural understanding and connection.
By sharing diverse and multilayered forms of Chinese musical expression, we hope to bring the richness of our cultural heritage to broader audiences and educational settings in the UK. Through these shared experiences, we aim not only to inspire musical growth, but to build lasting bridges between cultures and generations.”
Together, Chetham’s and the Central Conservatory of Music are building bridges between cultures — through education, creativity, and above all, music.
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