Youth Symphony, Global Vibes! 2025 Worldwise Festival of Music

The four-day 2025 Worldwise Festival of Music (WFM) successfully concluded at Dehong Shanghai International Chinese School and the Jaguar Shanghai Symphony Hall.

Click the video to relive the highlights of the 2025 WFM!

This event, under the theme of 'Global Vibes', brought together nearly 250 students and teachers from 11 Dulwich College International and Dehong schools around the world, including Shanghai, Beijing, Suzhou, Hengqin, Xi'an, Singapore and Seoul. They were joined by the world-renowned Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM). Together they embarked on a musical journey that transcended culture and geography in Shanghai.

As the host, Dehong Shanghai students opened the welcome ceremony with the power of dynamic drums, the melodiousness of the piano and the clear tones of handbells. Then the RNCM band ignited the atmosphere with two highly accomplished pieces. It was the beginning of a cross-cultural musical dialogue and global vibes.

Young musicians, based on their interests and strengths, joined one of five major ensembles: the Symphony Orchestra, Choir, Concert Band, Big Band, or Rock Band. 

Each ensemble brought together students from diverse cultural backgrounds, age groups and musical foundations — including performers with professional training and enthusiastic explorers new to music. 

Music teachers from Dulwich College International and Dehong schools and the RNCM team served dual roles as mentors and performers. They provided guidance and support to the students within each ensemble based on their professional expertise. This fostered an atmosphere that integrated teaching, rehearsal and creative exploration.

Musicians and their music both matured during intensive rehearsals: shaky performances became fluent and strangers became a group bound by an unspoken understanding. Repeated sectional practice and careful blending of parts not only enhanced the overall coordination of the performance but also fostered meaningful friendships. Here, music demonstrated its unique power as a universal language transcending cultural and regional boundaries, turning the theme of 'Global Vibes' into a genuine, shared emotion.

Over the course of the festival, the creative energy built up through days of practice and collaboration was unleashed on the third night during the Rock Night. The Dehong Shanghai campus was instantly transformed into a vibrant live house venue. Five student rock bands took their turn on stage, each leaning into a sound that felt true to them. 

Some played with the bold, straight-ahead confidence of a modern arena-style performance, while others explored a moodier, more textured approach, closer to today's alternative scene. 

Together, these different moods and styles created a warm, unforced atmosphere where everyone felt welcome to enjoy the performance in their own way. What stood out wasn't the volume or the lights, but the way students listened to each other, backing each other up and enjoying the music as a shared moment. 

Amid the intensive music rehearsals, experiencing authentic Shanghai culture became an unforgettable chapter of the Worldwise Festival of Music. 

Participants gathered at the Huangpu Riverside for a round-table dinner. Students and teachers from all over the world got to savour classic Shanghai cuisine and experience the city's history and warmth through their taste buds. 

They then went on a night cruise, gliding along the shimmering waters as the skyline of Lujiazui and the historic architecture of the Bund faced each other across the river. The classical and the modern engaged in a visual dialogue.

A Finale in Brilliance Resonating Globally

The 2025 Worldwise Festival of Music culminated in a grand closing concert at the Jaguar Shanghai Symphony Hall, where our young musicians presented the results of their four-day intensive collaboration, bringing a splendid conclusion to this musical journey.

The concert kicked off with the rock band unleashing their version of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' on an unsuspecting audience. Jolted by the chords of raw, chaotic teenage angst, the audience experienced the five major ensembles in turn: the rock band with driving intensity, the big band with infectious rhythm, the choir with seamless harmonies, the concert band with a rich, full-bodied sound and the symphony orchestra with sweeping, majestic passages.

The five major ensembles converged in the finale, performing the song 'From Now On' as a promise to each other 'to come back home again'. The rousing music had both the audience and the performers singing their hearts out, creating an unforgettable moment. The music became like a tailwind that will carry them ever forward as they go on their separate paths after the festival. As the final note faded, the performers left the audience awestruck, and after a moment, the hall erupted in thundering applause.

Over the course of this four-day musical extravaganza, students from across the Dulwich and Dehong family of schools fully unleashed their artistic talents, formed meaningful friendships across borders and experienced first-hand how powerful collaboration and exchange can be for their growth.

Each performance reflected the passion and commitment of these young musicians. The mutual understanding nurtured through music will stay with them as they step into the broader world with greater confidence and openness.

Looking ahead, the DCI family of schools will continue to offer opportunities that enrich our holistic education, where music plays an important role in shaping character, broadening perspectives and encouraging a global outlook. As a vibrant and international community of schools, we remain dedicated to creating spaces where students can come together, interact and engage through genuine global experiences.

The Worldwise Festival of Music will continue to stand as a strong bridge, connecting students with the world through music and guiding them toward the future they will build together.