A Year of Creativity, Courage, and Connection

The 2024–2025 academic year at Concordia International School Shanghai has been a triumphant celebration of student creativity, collaboration, and artistic excellence. Through theatre, music, and visual arts, our community witnessed firsthand how the arts continue to thrive and inspire. 

Concordia’s theatre program opened the year with the comedic mystery Clue: School Edition. With its rapid-fire dialogue, slapstick humor, and iconic characters brought to life, the cast delivered a tightly choreographed, laugh-out-loud production that delighted audiences of all ages. From the dramatic lighting to the inventive set changes, the play demonstrated the professional level of Concordia’s student tech and design crew.

Highlights included standout performances from our ensemble of actors who balanced classic characters with fresh interpretations, and a flawless ensemble synergy that brought the absurd mystery of Boddy Manor to life. 

The winter season brought a heartfelt series of Christmas concerts from the elementary, middle, and high school divisions. Students filled the Rittmann Center with festive music, ranging from traditional carols to contemporary arrangements. These concerts highlighted the depth of Concordia’s music program, with performances from choir, band, and orchestra ensembles.

The concerts were more than just holiday entertainment—they reflected the school’s emphasis on community, celebration, and joy through the arts. Families, faculty, and students came together to support one another and embrace the spirit of the season.

March brought the annual Spring Concerts, a key moment in the academic calendar for the music department. These performances highlighted students’ technical and artistic development across the semester. Each ensemble demonstrated increased musical maturity, with confident solos, tight ensemble work, and expressive phrasing that moved audiences. The Spring Concerts continue to reinforce Concordia’s commitment to music education and performance excellence.

In the spring, the Performing Arts Department presented The Addams Family musical—a perfect blend of gothic humor and heart. With moody visuals, a hauntingly beautiful set, and strong vocal performances, the show was a testament to Concordia’s ability to blend technical complexity with emotional storytelling.

The cast captured the quirky, macabre charm of the Addams clan with flair, and the pit orchestra added rich musical depth that elevated the entire experience. Notably, the choreography and ensemble numbers like “When You’re an Addams” and “Full Disclosure” showcased the range and energy of Concordia’s young performers.

Ending the school year on a high note, the Pops Concerts in May were a celebration of popular music across genres and eras. With arrangements ranging from jazz and musical theatre to rock, film scores, and global hits, these concerts gave students the opportunity to connect with contemporary music in fun and fresh ways. Audiences loved the high energy, creative staging, and genre-spanning set lists. It was a joyful, crowd-pleasing finale to a year of hard work and musical achievement.

The Strings program has grown exponentially this year, with the addition of a second full time strings teacher, Mr. Simo. We have had many fun concerts throughout the year, highlights which include opportunities for the audience to sing along, which were highly enjoyable in ‘Last Christmas’ at the Christmas concert and ‘Die with a Smile’ at the Pops concert. MS pupils have also had the opportunity to explore learning a second string instrument in our new Applied Learning courses, with many students choosing to learn viola and bass!

This year was no exception to the opportunities for students to take part in APAC Festivals in Choir, Orchestra, Band and Theatre, for students to be part of AMIS Festivals in Strings, Band and Choir and for students to attend invitational Festivals around China. 

Concordia's HS visual art students have demonstrated exceptional creativity and community engagement, with one of our AP Art & Design student getting accepted and scholarships into prestigious programs like RISD, Parsons, Pratt, and Art Center College of Design, while other visual art students visited the Will Foundation to meet and interview community members as they have planned and collaborated on an art project scheduled for completion in October 2025.

We also hosted the first-ever visual art event for ACAMIS in November, and in February, we hosted the 3^rd annual ACAMIS Digital Art Competition.

As we reflect on an extraordinary year of artistic expression, we look forward to what the next season will bring. At Concordia, the arts remain a powerful medium for student voice, imagination, and connection—an essential part of our educational mission.

Here’s to another year of bold performances, beautiful melodies, and brilliant creativity.