The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao

Introducing The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao (YMSQ) - sister school of YMS

The Yehudi Menuhin School has long held a close connection to China, dating back to the 1980s, when Yehudi Menuhin led the school orchestra on a tour to the country. The decision to establish YMS’s first overseas branch in China was therefore driven by both a special emotional attachment to the country and a long-standing desire to contribute to the development of classical music education in the Far East. 

Partnering with the Qingdao Urban Construction Group, an organisation which demonstrated a common vision for music education, YMSQ was officially opened in September 2022 and has quickly established itself as one of the leading musical institutions in the region. In time, the School is expected to grow to around 850 pupils, with first-study options covering the entire range of orchestral instruments. 

YMSQ is located in Qingdao, a beautiful coastal city in Shandong Province in North-East China, situated between Beijing and Shanghai, two major metropolises of China. The site occupies a prime location directly adjacent to a nature reserve, with access to miles of coastal trails just a few minutes away. The School’s striking architecture has become a major landmark of the area, and it affords a remarkable array of facilities to its resident staff and students. The complex’s acoustic design was created in partnership with the internationally renowned Japanese expert Yasuhisa Toyota. 

With plans for a performance arts centre, including a 1000-seat concert hall, in place, YMSQ aspires to be a major cultural centre for the Qingdao region, offering opportunities for its students to hone their performance skills and providing access to concerts given by an array of visiting artists. Within the School itself sits the 300-seat multi-purpose hall, the Menuhin Concert Hall, and the SKY Recital Room, which boasts panoramic views of Tangdao Bay. 

Close collaboration is at the heart of the relationship between YMS and YMSQ, and staff and students from YMS regularly visit Qingdao to work alongside YMSQ’s international faculty, and for classes, seminars and performances. A shared set of values unites both institutions, with Yehudi Menuhin’s founding ethos of focusing on the pupils’ holistic development central to the offering. The close relationship is further strengthened by the involvement of YMS alumnus, Lu Siqing, as President of YMSQ, and the overview provided by the YMS Director of Music, who also formally supports the music department at YMSQ. 

The educational philosophy, spirit and culture of YMSQ is closely aligned with that of YMS, and there is a strong sense of commonality across the curriculum. With the support of the Chinese authorities, special arrangements have been made to ensure the pupils’ engagement with compulsory national curriculums are compatible with the requirements of a musically-focused school. 

Financial support is offered to pupils at YMSQ who demonstrate exceptional promise, whilst families who are unable to afford the school fees may also apply for funding. 

For more information, visit https://en.menuhinschool.cn/.