Last Saturday, IGS was alive with creativity as the school hosted two inspiring events: the Hummingbird Music Awards Winners’ Special Concert, an outstanding celebration of classical music, and the IGS Vernissage, showcasing the artistic journeys and creative achievements of our students. Together, these events highlighted the richness of the school’s commitment to music, the arts and a well-rounded education.
Hummingbird Music Awards Winners’ Special Concert
The concert was presented by the China Youth Music Competition – Hummingbird Music Award (CYMC). Established in 2016, the competition was jointly founded by the CYMC Management Committee, the German Music Council and the organisers of Germany’s renowned Jugend musiziert. As a prestigious platform for young musicians, it promotes meaningful cultural exchange and artistic collaboration between China and Germany. Every performer appearing on stage had earned their place through a demanding multi-round selection process and exceptional competition results.
Mrs Heide Schaffer, Head of School, opened the concert with a warm welcome. Reflecting IGS’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity, she spoke about music as a universal language that transcends cultural boundaries, bringing young people together through shared experiences, mutual understanding and a love of artistic expression.
Throughout the afternoon, audiences were treated to a captivating programme that seamlessly blended Eastern and Western musical traditions. The repertoire ranged from timeless masterpieces by Haydn, Bach, Beethoven and Mozart to the much-loved Chinese folk song Jasmine Flower. Highlights also included the moving north-western Chinese folk ballad Zou Xikou and the vibrant Mambo from Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story. The diversity of the programme not only showcased the performers’ impressive technical ability but also reflected their broad musical horizons and appreciation of different cultural traditions.
The concert concluded on a particularly memorable note as Mr Leo, Chairman of the Anhui Division of the Hummingbird Music Award – China Youth Music Competition and violinist with the Anhui Symphony Orchestra, joined all of the young musicians on stage for a moving performance of the much-loved classic Auld Lang Syne. The performance served as a fitting tribute to the enduring friendship between China and Germany.
More than a concert, the event demonstrated how music can build bridges between cultures and inspire meaningful connections. It also reflected IGS’s educational philosophy of nurturing globally minded young people through inclusivity, creativity and intercultural understanding, while celebrating the Hummingbird Music Award’s longstanding contribution to youth arts education and Sino-German cultural exchange.
IGS Vernissage
Following the concert, guests were invited to the opening of the IGS Vernissage, an exhibition featuring selected artwork created by students from Classes 1 to 8.
The exhibition celebrates a year of exploration, experimentation and artistic growth, inspired by influential twentieth-century artists as well as contemporary art. Throughout the year, students have worked with a wide variety of materials and techniques, discovering new ways to communicate ideas, tell visual stories and interpret the world around them. Along the way, they have explored diverse cultural perspectives while developing their own distinctive artistic voices.
Our students continue to impress us with their creativity, curiosity and wonderful sense of humour. Through their artwork, they share observations, ideas and questions that are often thoughtful, imaginative and unexpected. Seeing the world through their eyes is both inspiring and rewarding, reminding us to look more closely, think more openly and appreciate beauty in unexpected places.
Every artwork displayed offers a unique perspective and celebrates the confidence to create something truly original. The exhibition also marks an important milestone as we celebrate our first year at IGS Hefei: a year defined by new beginnings, learning, friendship and shared experiences. Together, these works capture the spirit of that remarkable journey.
Together, the Hummingbird Concert and the IGS Vernissage perfectly reflect the school’s vision of a holistic education, where creativity, diversity and intercultural understanding are valued alongside academic excellence.
At IGS, we believe that music and the arts enable children to discover the world, express themselves with confidence and develop as compassionate, open-minded individuals. By embedding artistic experiences into everyday school life, we create opportunities for every student to explore their talents, embrace their creativity and grow as confident young people. We look forward to continuing to nurture that creative spirit and ensuring that the arts remain at the heart of our vibrant school community for many years to come.