International Students’ Week

Chetham’s is a truly international community. Around 10% of our students have joined us from overseas, and over 40 different languages are spoken across our School. Each term, we celebrate this wonderful diversity with ‘International Students Week’ where we have food from different cultures, flags in the hall, and other activities.

To mark International Students Week 24-29 June 2024, we spoke to year 13 vocal student Oleksii. Oleksii joined us from Ukraine and has found a second home in Manchester. You can also watch our interview with Ms Dackombe, our brilliant Maths teacher who organises the week-long event and has advice for new international students.

Hi Oleksii! As an international student, how have you found Chetham’s?

“Chetham’s is a very welcoming place for all the students. House staff are very supportive and very helpful, they create a home atmosphere so people who have come from overseas, like me, feel like they have a separate home here.

“Academic and music teachers give their full attention to all the students and help us to fulfil different tasks. School also provides additional English language lessons for those whose first language is not English.”

How does Chetham’s make you feel welcome?

“I think it’s about the people here. Everyone here has come from different countries, but we all do the same thing here – music! We all sing together in a choir, we give concerts together, we hang out, we have fun. That’s why I love it here.”

What are your plans for next year?

“Beginning from September 2024, I’ll be continuing my music education at the Royal Northern College of Music. Genuinely, I’m really happy to stay in Manchester because it’s a great city and I love the people here. Plus, I can always come back to Chetham’s to see concerts and visit my old friends and teachers.”

Why would you advise other young people, perhaps from overseas, to come to Chetham’s?

“If you have chosen music as your life path, the school provides everything you need for professional growth in music. There are well equipped rooms, great buildings, amazing pianos, lots of performance opportunities (inside and outside of the school). There are excellent teachers and tutors, who are not only helping with education here but also serving as advisors for our future education opportunities.”

Olekksi performing in ‘Millgate St Opera’ at Stoller Hall, March 2024.