As roses bloom and songbirds flutter under the delightful May sunbeams, Shanghai Soong Ching Ling School International Division Middle & High School celebrated a unique and lively performance: the Spring Salon Concert. This concert consisted of five parts, including three string ensembles directed by Mr. Janko and two choir performances directed by Dr. Shamov.
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Year One Orchestra
The curtain rises as Mr. Janko gave an introductory speech in English and Chinese, officially marking the beginning of our spring concert.
The first guests on stage were the Year 1 orchestra, who performed two pieces: "Viking" and "Spartacus".
"Viking" was an energetic string piece that launched the audience into a world of legendary seafaring adventures.
"Spartacus" carried the merciless glory of an ancient Roman gladiator match through the layered harmonies of cello and violin. Although the children have relatively limited practice time, they nevertheless compensated with rousing enthusiasm on stage, handling the performance with rhythms so precise that the audience couldn't help but fixate their gaze upon them.
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MS Orchestra
Then came the middle school orchestra, who were also greeted by warm applause. They presented three pieces, "Wood Splitter Fanfare", "Colors of Home", and "1812 Overture".
The first two pieces boasted sharply contrasting rhythms. As the music seamlessly transferred from the sharp beats and powerful rhythms of the first piece to the calm, warm pace of the second, the audience were once again amazed by how expressive our young musicians were.
Among these works, the third string piece, "1812 Overture" is a masterpiece created by the famous Russian romantic composer, Tchaikovsky. It is a composition based on the Russo-French War of 1812. The mellow and bright tone of the violin and the deep and emotional tone of the cello perfectly intertwined with each other, depicting a magnificent historical picture of the Russian people's victory defending their country.
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HS Orchestra
The grand finale consisted of three pieces, "Mantras", "Air on the G string" and "Symphony No.6, Allegro ma non troppo" all performed by the high school orchestra.
"Air on the G string" is one of the most classic Bach Baroque pieces. The high school students created a flowing and melodic atmosphere with their violins, and the audience was completely captivated by the rich tones of the G string of the cello.
As the finishing notes of the last piece lingered in the air, the audience was greeted by the elegant flow of Beethoven's Symphony No. 6, a classical composition that captures his sincere love of nature. The young performers seamlessly cooperated to combine bright tones, smooth lines and different sections, bringing a serene image of idyllic life to the forefront of their listeners' minds.
Thunderous applause filled the room as parents showed their respect to the high school students, who committed to playing and practicing their instruments despite their tight academic schedule to present a professional-level performance. This show was made possible by the students' love for music, but credit also goes to Mr. Janko, the director of the orchestra, whose guidance and tutoring laid the foundation for ultimate success.
Much like the orchestra players created graceful notes with their instruments, the choir sang beautiful melodies with their wonderful, nightingale-like voices.
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MS Choir
The Middle School children were the first to perform, and they wowed us with a nostalgic melody from the 70s titled "After the Gold Rush". This song was directed by Dr. Shamov, who expertly arranged the notes to bring out the natural characteristics of the children's voices, reverberating clearly and purely in the air.
Afterwards, the choir sang a stunningly beautiful piece of an ancient Chinese poem by Du Fu, "Joyful Rain in Spring Night", which was composed by Liu Zhuo. Dr. Shamov also gave a special thanks to Cherry Shen, the piano accompanist from the 8th grade.
After this piece, the mood shifted as the style of the music switched from poetic melodies to modern pop music. "Something Just Like This" was also directed by Dr. Shamov himself. The children adapted the rap lines in Chinese, they sang the rhythm with great enthusiasm as the audience clapped along with the beat.
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HS Choir
The High School choir performed a heavenly song, "An Irish Blessing," in which the children blended all the vocal parts together in a delicate acapella harmony, showcasing their high-level singing skills.
Aside from this, the High School choir also performed a modern, up-tempo pop song named "Something Big". This piece was accompanied by Richard Yang on drums, Kelvin Li on guitar, and Yining Mao on piano. The band's appearance immediately brought forth a wave of enthusiastic calls and applause from the audience on stage, as the atmosphere instantly switched to cheerful and enthusiastic. The students' young voices carried an infectious vibrance that effortlessly drew the audience in, setting the stage ablaze with the colors of youth.
After that, the high school students also concluded their grand finale with a Disney movie song, "Aladdin". The song was a refreshing blend of musical elements, and the children had costumes amd props inspired by the Middle East, which helped the audience travel to that far-away land.
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MS&HS Choir
At the end of the whole choral performance, members of the Middle School choir went on stage to join their High School counterparts. Together, they sang one last piece, "Viva La Vida", originally made famous by Coldplay. From the rousing and joyful notes, we heard the children's praise and celebration of life.
After the performance concluded, we conducted a short interview with Mr. Janko, who oversees the orchestra, and Dr. Shamov, the choir's instructor.
Mr. Janko believes that learning music is a gift that will bring joy to children throughout their lives. Growing up with a musician father, at the age of ten Mr. Janko learned piano and started practicing saxophone. Music has always been a part of his life and will continue to be so in years to come.
Dr. Shamov reviewed and commented on the concert with barely restrained excitement. He claimed that despite the lack of preparation time and the tight schedule following the previous winter concert, the children carried out the show as wonderful performers. He was deeply touched by the children's spirited stage presence. He felt that, by practicing the art of choral singing, the children had truly sought to become better versions of themselves.
Conclusion
The International Division Middle & High School has its own distinctive arts program, offering a wide variety of curricula including art, drama, orchestra, and chorus classes. Students are encouraged to choose one of the classes that best suits their preference.
The ultimate drive behind this differentiated education lies in the respect and love that the teachers harbor for the children in the International Division.
As Madame Soong Ching Ling once said, "Give children the most valuable things." SCLS-ID creates the conditions for our students to tap into their potential to ensure their healthy growth. This core value is clearly reflected in our Spring Concert, as we firmly believe that today's music education also serves as a gift to the future versions of our students, one which will accompany them throughout their lifetime.
Photos taken by：老骥（Jay Hou's Dad）
Written & Designed by：云薇（Cherry Shen's Mum）
Translated by：郑奕菁 Naresa Zheng
Edited by：Mr. Joshua Shane Yager & Mrs. G
把最宝贵的东西给予儿童
GIVE CHILDREN THE MOST VALUABLE THINGS
