To promote musical and cultural exchange between young people in Guangzhou and Hong Kong, our school welcomed a visiting exchange group from our sister school, Guangzhou No. 3 Middle School, from November 20th to 22nd. The group consisted of 28 teachers and students from Guangzhou (including 4 Chinese dance students and 20 orchestral students). YLLSS teachers and students extended their hospitality by arranging a rich itinerary for the group, aiming to enhance the musical literacy of students from both schools and strengthen the friendship between them!
During the exchange, our students paired up with their counterparts from Guangzhou No. 3 Middle School to experience a full day of our classes, allowing the No. 3 Middle School students to immerse themselves in the learning life of a Hong Kong secondary school. During lunchtime, our music leaders took their partners out for a meal, enjoying delicious food while strengthening their bondings! Furthermore, the teachers and students from Guangzhou No. 3 Middle School experienced YLLSS’s diverse after-school programs, including powerful and beautiful Chinese dance, traditional Chinese music, majestic Chinese drumming, and the elegant charm of Chinese ink painting, experiencing the profound appeal of Chinese culture and art. During their after-school activities on Art Friday, they also participated in a highly creative vocal percussion workshop, experiencing our ‘Happydemic’ educational philosophy.
Music was the core of this exchange. Music leaders from both schools gave a wonderful joint performance, using music as a bridge to deepen mutual understanding and friendship. They also went together to the Tsim Sha Tsui Cultural Centre to watch a world-class performance by the Orchestra Santa Cecilia, broadening the students’ musical horizons! On the second day of the exchange, teachers and students from Guangzhou No. 3 Middle School participated in our school’s flag-raising ceremony. Hou Yani, a representative from Guangzhou No. 3 Middle School, shared her thoughts under the national flag with the theme “Music Bridges Hearts: Uniting Guangzhou and Hong Kong”, expressing the shared aspirations of the youth from both places to be of one heart and one mind, and to progress together.
On the final day of the trip, our teachers and students led Guangzhou No. 3 Middle School teachers and students on a tour of Hong Kong, creating unforgettable memories. They rode the iconic Star Ferry together, enjoying the Victoria Harbour breeze, and visited the Science Museum and the Hong Kong Museum of History, empowering learning to extend beyond the classroom and explore the city of Hong Kong from multiple perspectives. This exchange not only enhanced the students’ musical and artistic skills, but also successfully forged a sincere friendship between young people from Guangzhou and Hong Kong, making it a very rewarding experience!
