The story of humanity often begins in moments such as this: a hopeful young person sets out from home, carrying the melodies of their homeland on their lips, embarking on a journey toward the future. Seeking meaning through hope and drawing inner strength from music—this is a shared cultural thread that has united humankind for millennia.

The Seeds of Hope Concert plants seeds with a simple wish: that more young people across the globe will hum one another’s hometown melodies. And “global harmony” has been the hope that YCYW has cherished throughout our 94-year educational journey.

On the evening of 7 March 2026, “A Musical Celebration of the 30th Anniversary of YCIS Beijing & YCYW Seeds of Hope Concert” concluded successfully at the Beijing Poly Theatre. Young YCYW performers joined several hundred distinguished guests from across society, as well as friends from home and abroad, in a shared celebration.

Through music that transcended borders, hearts were rooted in the beauty of global cultures, and together, all walked forward hand in hand, guided by melodies of hope.

Dr Esther Chan, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (K-12 Education) of YCYW Education Network，began by extending heartfelt gratitude to all attendees. She mentioned that YCYW is committed to aligning with Science and Technology, Culture and Arts, and Love and Charity.

Dr Esther Chan shared that this year’s concert brought together online participants from Liangshan, Sichuan Province, including 20 Yi ethnic minority students, while nearly 300 students, teachers, and alumni from YCYW—from Beijing, Hong Kong SAR, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Qingdao, Yantai, Zhejiang Tongxiang, and even Silicon Valley in the United States—travelled far and wide to take part. Notably, Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education joined this special event for the first time. Together, they used music as a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures.

Dr Esther Chan also noted that proceeds from last year’s concert supported three schools in Xichang City, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, and helped establish the YCYW Service Learning Programme, a commitment that will continue this year.

“We believe education can reach beyond the classroom and into local communities, sowing seeds of hope through service and transforming society through compassion,” she concluded.

Ms Eunice Chan, Assistant Director, Office of the Hong Kong SAR Government in Beijing, stated in her speech that YCYW has been deeply rooted in China for over 90 years, is approaching its centenary, and coinciding with the 30th anniversary of YCIS Beijing. This concert shows how YCYW’s educational philosophy extends into charity.

Ms Chan pointed out that Hong Kong enjoys the distinctive advantages of being part of China with strong support from our Motherland and at the same time being centrally located in Asia. As a super-connector of global education networks, Hong Kong has globally recognised universities, with five of them within the world's top 100. Ms Chan looked forward to the performance by the Liangshan students and encouraged students to move forward with a humble heart and a grateful spirit, and may the friendships take root as seeds of hope.

The Seeds of Hope Programme began in 1996 with relief and reconstruction efforts following the Lijiang earthquake in Yunnan. It was reinvigorated in 2008 during the post-Wenchuan earthquake recovery, formally established as a structured charitable programme in 2011, and further elevated in 2022 into the Seeds of Hope Annual Fund.

As a cornerstone of this initiative, the Seeds of Hope Concert has become YCYW’s signature annual musical event. Through self-directed, self-scripted, and self-performed productions, students and teachers integrate artistic excellence with public service, embodying their commitment to social responsibility. In doing so, they deepen cross-cultural understanding between China and the wider world and carry forward the hope of education.

The Seeds of Hope Concert 2026 wove together a profound sonic tapestry, anchored in the central idea of “Character”. Among the highlights is the premiere of “The Four Virtues: A Song of Diligence, Frugality, Faithfulness, and Humility”, composed by Dr Anton D. Luiten, YCYW Director of Music and Dr Yu Yeung, and performed by the YCYW Combined Orchestra and Choir. This closing piece will be the artistic and philosophical heart of the Seeds of Hope Concert 2026.

The concert featured a live video performance from Yi students in Liangshan, Sichuan Province, who played the yueqin and sang traditional Yi folk songs, their ancient melodies resonating with millennia-old cultural roots. On stage in Beijing, the YCIS Beijing Theatre Group joined forces with the YCYW Combined Orchestra and Choir to present a suite from Mulan, reimagining this Eastern legend through contemporary theatrical language.

Guest artist Mr Liu Xiaolong, an acclaimed performer of the dizi and xiao, delivered a masterful rendition of “Jiu’er”, the haunting end-title theme from the acclaimed television series “Red Sorghum”. His lyrical dizi tones engaged in a heartfelt dialogue with the string ensemble, exemplifying a refined synthesis of Chinese folk and Western chamber music.

Among the traditional selections, “Osmanthus Flowers Blooming Everywhere in August”, a folk song from the Dabie Mountains, celebrated the resilience of revolutionary spirit through its heartfelt melody.  Meanwhile, “Sheng Sheng Man”fused the poetic imagery with yueqin and choral textures, evoking a distinctly Eastern aesthetic realm.

Western classics shone with equal brilliance. Wagner’s Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg opened the “Diligence” segment. Gershwin’s Blues from An American in Paris featured 2025 alumni, Mr Patrick Yulin Liu as clarinet soloist. Camille Saint-Saëns’ Danse Macabre, with its deliberately abrasive scordatura tuning to interpret the humble philosophical concept of "equality of all beings."

Seeds of Hope brought the evening gala to its climax. Composed by former YCYW Director of Music Mr Gary Sanderson, this signature theme was sung in both English and Chinese, giving voice to the enduring belief: “Together, we can sow the seeds of hope.” Here, the four virtues: Diligence, Frugality, Humility, and Faithfulness, merged into a unified whole. Nearly 300 students, teachers, and alumni took the stage together, demonstrating how the power of education transcends performance itself, sowing seeds of hope through service and compassion.

What an unforgettable evening. This concert was not only a celebration of YCIS Beijing’s thirty years of dedication to education in the capital and its role as a witness to the confluence of Chinese and Western cultures, it was also a powerful continuation of the Seeds of Hope mission. Every note played was a seed illuminating the future; every round of applause became a force nurturing growth.

All proceeds from this concert will continue to support our partner schools in Liangshan, Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, helping the values of diligence, courage, compassion, and harmony take root through cross-regional collaboration.

On the same day of the concert, the Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association (Hong Kong, PECERA-HK) held its 20th Anniversary Celebration cum 2025–26 Annual Meeting at YCIS Hong Kong, where it presented the inaugural Distinguished Educator Award, to honour educators for outstanding lifetime contributions to early childhood education. Dr Betty Chan, CEO and School Supervisor of YCYW Education Network, was the first recipient of this prestigious award, marking widespread recognition of her exceptional achievements in advancing early childhood education.

As the founder of the "Seeds of Hope" initiative, Dr Betty Chan expressed her heartfelt gratitude to all teachers and students for their outstanding performance and dedicated efforts. She also noted that this marked the first time Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education (YCCECE) had participated in the concert, highlighting how the institution has grown. Dr Chan attributed this personal honour to her colleagues, parents, and students alike, reaffirming her commitment to walking with them into the future, nurturing more outcomes in educating the whole child.

Dr Chan also stated that for 94 years, YCYW has been dedicated to nurturing students who not only excel academically, but who also grow into young people of integrity, empathy, and purpose.

感谢以下机构对本次活动的贡献及协助