"With lutes small and large, let us be friends;
With bells and drums, let us give her joy.
As explained in 'The Book of Songs' , playing music is a way to better understand oneself and engage with others. We hope that Pao School students can reap these rewards too through playing music."
——Philip Sohmen
Executive Deputy Chairman
The music programme at Pao Middle School aims to establish three core competencies: aesthetic perception, artistic expression, and cultural understanding. The programme focuses on developing the musical interest and talent of its students, while offering them a wide range of musical experiences.
The Postscript Violin Exhibition, located on the Infinite Music Centre, features display cases that hold valuable violins owned by Executive Deputy Chairman Philip Sohmen. Having studied the violin since childhood, he brought six of his treasured violins from Hong Kong to Shanghai in 2021 to be placed at Hongqiao campus. At the exhibition's opening ceremony, Philip Sohmen shared his hope that by establishing this exhibition, the students could delve into the influence of art and culture through the violins, including “craftsmanship, a commitment to excellence and meticulous attention to detail, and the distinct histories and cultures they embody."
Philip Sohmen's vision is realised through Pao School's music programme. The Year 8 Music programme centres on ensemble performance, composition and music appreciation. In regular orchestra rehearsals and concerts students work with rhythm, melody and harmony and come to appreciate the creative power of teamwork. Music lessons go beyond technical training and give students who love music a real stage to showcase their talents and explore their artistic potential. To ensure every Year 8 student studying music gains the full ensemble experience, all music elective students join the orchestra.
In 2024, Pao Middle School established a special concert-master role for the Year 8 orchestra. The winning student has the opportunity to use the exhibit's 'Modern Violin', and then share their experience at the summer concert the following June. This year's selection began in October. Candidates were tested in three ways: playing a required excerpt; performing a chosen piece; and giving a short speech on 'how a concert-master should demonstrate leadership.' The judging panel included both teachers and student representatives, whose assessments were then combined.
From left to right: Modern Violin, Mystery Violin and 'Coronation' Violin
This violin is a fabulous example of a modern Violin from 1978, made to the highest standards by the 20th century maker Bruno Barbieri in the city of Mantua in northern Italy, just an hour's drive away from the historic home of violin-making in Cremona.
Middle School Principal Ada Wang presents the winner with the award at the winter concert.
This year four violinists competed for the top chair, and Sarah Wei emerged as winner, becoming the new concert-master of the orchestra. Sarah Wei joined Pao School in Year 1 and has been in the string ensemble since she was eight. She says the school's music programme provides fertile ground for growth, with music classes, small-group instrumental lessons and extracurricular activities that build technique, musical understanding and teamwork. Performances such as the winter and summer concerts, Founders' Day, talent shows and school assemblies give every student a chance to take the stage and shine.
*Thanks to Ms Yunzhi Chen, Middle School Head of Music, for her contributions to this article.
