The autumn chill is offset by the warmth of music. On 18th September, Mr. David Woodcock, the Director of Music at Harrow UK, made his first visit to HHKCS, delivering world-class musical guidance through three themed workshops. This cross-border exchange vividly demonstrated the distinctive value of HHKCS music education in holistic development, values transmission, and intercultural integration. Let us now enjoy the highlights of this musical celebration.
Weaving History through Melody, Interpreting Legacy through Collaboration
The visit was centred around three meticulously designed, progressively structured workshops, covering the entire spectrum of musical learning – from traditional song interpretation and individual performance technique to advanced composition.
Chorus Workshop
In the first chorus workshop, Mr. David Woodcock guided staff and students in exploring the rich heritage of the Harrow Songbook. He vividly explained that between 1872 and 2003, Harrow composed over fifty school songs, emphasising that Harrow remains the only school in the world to regularly perform such an extensive repertoire. This is precisely why music lies at the heart of the Harrow spirit.
On stage, he personally performed “John Lyon’s Road”, “The Silver Arrow”, and Harrow’s iconic song “40 Years On”, subsequently leading the students in a choral session. This was not merely a vocal rehearsal, but an emotional resonance: under his inspiration, staff and students connected with the profound collective memory and great pride embedded within the notes. In this immersive experience, centuries-old traditions engaged in a moving dialogue with a new generation of Harrow pupils.
The fruits of this labour were evident the following day. During an assembly attended by Mr. Alistair Land, Head Master of Harrow UK, students of HHKCS confidently performed “John Lyon’s Road”. Their assured delivery, deep understanding of the piece, and evident enthusiasm deeply impressed all present, earning not just applause, but a genuine artistic connection throughout the gathering.。
Performance Masterclass
The performance masterclass focused on stagecraft and refining individual technique. Mr. David Woodcock provided one-to-one coaching to students from HHKCS and Harrow International Shenzhen, covering performance techniques, stage presence and in-depth interaction with accompanists. Other students observed, learning to listen critically, analyse, and absorb insights from their peers.
This masterclass transcended mere technical instruction, inspiring students to contemplate how to transform instruments and voices into vessels of emotion, how to establish a profound connection with the audience, and how to imbue classical works with personal interpretation — thus achieving a performance that truly resonates and possesses genuine soul.
Advanced Music Composition Discussion
The afternoon Music Composition Discussion sparked creative inspiration. Using a ‘sunrise’ as his theme, Mr. David Woodcock employed poetic metaphor to deconstruct the natural spectacle into musical dynamics, melody, and colour, guiding students in translating abstract feelings into concrete musical expression.
Significantly, the workshop brought together HHKCS students following the HKDSE curriculum and A-Level students from Harrow International Shenzhen. For these young musicians from different academic streams, it proved a profound learning experience and a key step in broadening their artistic horizons and deepening their musical understanding.
A Dialogue on Harrow Values: How Music Shapes Holistic Education
In an afternoon interview, Mr. David Woodcock shared profound insights on the intrinsic value of music education.
He first highly commended HHKCS students for their open-mindedness, willingness to try new things, and quick absorption of ideas demonstrated during the sessions. He noted the significant artistic potential and malleability evident in both the engagement of younger students singing Harrow songs and the ability of soloists to adapt quickly to challenging material.
Regarding the alignment of music with Harrow’s ethos, he explained that musical activities naturally embody the core Harrow values of Courage, Honour, Humility, and Fellowship – students learn responsibility in solo performance, collaboration in ensemble work, courage in facing challenges, and humility in success. Harrow aims to cultivate these lifelong soft skills through music education.
He identified HHKCS greatest strengths as its ‘energy as a new school’ and its ‘strategic location within the Greater Bay Area’. This positions the school to uniquely integrate Harrow UK deep musical traditions, the diverse cultural influences of the Greater Bay Area, and an international educational perspective, creating a distinctive curriculum. He also praised the exceptional advantage HHKCS holds in being able to provide 16 years of continuous musical nourishment from early years through to graduation, offering an unparalleled opportunity to systematically develop students’ musical literacy, aesthetic appreciation, and creative abilities.
A Global Vision for Music Education: Integrating Bay Area Culture
Mr. David Woodcock’s visit served as a vivid demonstration of world-class music education in practice, aligned with Harrow’s holistic educational philosophy. It powerfully affirmed HHKCS as a benchmark in blending centuries of Harrow UK educational tradition with the dynamic culture of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, while nurturing future leaders.
As a pioneering international school in the Bay Area, HHKCS is committed to educating students to become global citizens who are rooted in heritage yet open to innovation, and who excel both academically and artistically. Moving forward, we will strengthen our collaboration within the global Harrow network, introducing more exceptional music resources to enrich our curriculum. This will lay a solid foundation for establishing HHKCS as a distinguished centre for music within the region.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Mr. David Woodcock for the artistic inspiration and lasting impact he has brought to our community. We are confident that the seeds of music sown through this visit will grow into a resonant legacy—one that will echo throughout HHKCS and across the Greater Bay Area in the years to come.
