I am thrilled to introduce the launch of the Oxford and Cambridge Singing School Summer Programme at AISL Harrow Hong Kong Children School Shenzhen. It is an immensely exciting new partnership with AISL Outdoor – and a collaboration which brings together the expertise of two esteemed institutions to create a unique and enriching educational experience. As the programme director, I am thrilled to work alongside a distinguished team of coaches to deliver what I know will be a valuable and rewarding educational experience. At the heart of this programme is the spirit of partnerships - bringing together heritage institutions, educators, and students in a shared pursuit of excellence. By collaborating with AISL Outdoor, we combine the time-honoured traditions of Oxford and Cambridge with the innovative, experiential learning approach that AISL Harrow champions. This creates an environment where students can engage deeply with the arts, language, and performance while building lasting friendships. Our aim is not just to teach but to inspire, but to foster a love of learning that extends beyond the classroom and into every aspect of life. We believe that partnerships like this enrich the educational experience, offering students the best of both worlds: heritage and modernity, tradition and innovation, discipline and creativity.
During the programme we will be learning about English language and culture from a number of different perspectives; through literature, drama, music and history; and learning skills of communication and presentation with the help of music and poetry. We will soon find that all these areas are richly inter-connected. For instance, we learn about the history of a culture partly through the songs they sing; we learn poetry through drama, and to understand drama we need to know about the historical context in which it was conceived.
In my own life and from an early age I myself have been lucky enough to experience England’s historical and cultural riches. Between the ages of 8 and 13 I sang in the choir of Windsor Castle, one of the residences of the Royal Family; and sometimes even sang for the Queen. The tradition of Cathedral and Chapel choirs goes back a millennium; with choral services sung every day in many institutions. I then attended Harrow School and as an undergraduate student attended Christ Church in Oxford, the largest college in Oxford, dating back to the reign of Henry VIII. There I studied Modern History, and sang in the Cathedral choir; and I was always keen to pursue a musical career. So, having run a professional ensemble for many years, I took up the role in 2003 of Director of Music at St Catharine’s College, where I have the responsibility for teaching students in music, but also conducting and managing the choirs and ensembles at the college.
At Cambridge and Oxford, I am privileged to work with students who do not regard education merely as about passing exams. My choir members, for instance, may study Maths or Computer Science, Natural Sciences or Law; but they will also value the extra richness of experience which comes with making music. The same is true of those who are engaged in drama or other co-curricular activities. Our course is designed to give children a taste of and enthusiasm for these more broader interests, which will serve them as a friend and support throughout their lives.
An essential aspect of this broader experience – and what we emphasise on our course – is presentational and communication skills. If you are a top, grade A student but cannot express or ‘sell’ your ideas, then you can be disadvantaged. You have to be able to ‘perform’; to ‘put on a show’. And there is no better way of learning how to do this than by practising how to perform. Even if you are not a great singer, having to stand with others and sing to an audience is a valuable learning experience. The same goes for acting. If you can deliver a speech by Shakespeare, then you can also present a presentation to a boardroom or lecture to a classroom. In our language classes we will be working on role-playing, which are themselves mini-plays without script.
Most importantly, you will be learning these skills in a supportive environment, where we aim to have serious fun. All these activities are team activities, and there is great benefit to be had from experiencing the successes (and failures) of performing while you are in a group of friends. It’s a bit different from having to tackle an exam question, where you are on your own; here we are learning as part of a community.
I am excited to be returning to the Greater Bay Area. It is a region that I have visited a few times before, to perform in and with different choirs. It is one of the most exciting places I know; and I’m looking forward to experiencing again the diverse culture, as well as doing some walking in New Territories.
See you in August!