A group of 25 students from Dwight New York, Franklin School, and Dwight Global Online School arrived at Shanghai Pudong International Airport after more than 24 hours of travel via Taiwan. A local guide met the group right outside, ready to kick-off an epic five-day adventure that started in the city of Shanghai. The group jumped right in, meeting with students from Seoul and Hanoi for lunch. Bonded by this shared experience, they went on together to sample the unique sights and sounds of the city, heading up the Oriental Pearl Tower. After dinner, students experienced an Acrobatic show — though some from our group were too tired and opted for an early bed time.

They didn’t have much time to rest, as the next day, our group from New York met with students from Shanghai, Seoul, Dubai, Hanoi, and London for a first day at Qibao Dwight filled with meet and greets, rehearsals, and a cultural presentation from the Qibao students. The second day of rehearsals were capped off with a dinner organized by the Dwight Qibao parent body. Food stations represented each campus (including the newest campus, Cairo!). Students sampled a variety of food, including fish and chips and shepherd’s pie from the UK, kebabs, hummus, and baklava from the UAE and Egypt, hot dogs and hamburgers from the US, Korean fried chicken, scallion pancakes, and Vietnamese noodles. 

More importantly, they shared each other’s cultures and stories. Dwight Global Online student Elaine (Yilin) Xia ’29 said her favorite moments across this experience came during these shared meals. She said, “We reflected on how connected we felt despite coming from different parts of the world. It was very inspiring to meet so many talented musicians and learn about everyone’s musical perspectives… It’s truly a once‑in‑a‑lifetime experience.” 

During the three days of rehearsals, students had the opportunity to see Qibao’s Ancient Town, walking cobblestone alleys, viewing Ming and Qing architecture, sampling traditional snacks such as tangtuan, and visiting the Qibao Shadow Art Museum. What started with music and culture led to a deep bond between students, with many still in touch, maintaining the connections formed. Dwight New York student Svetlana Stephanopoulos ’27 noted the ease at which she made new friends. She added, “I had such a good time! I met some amazing people all over the world and now we talk every day.” 

Another lasting connection: carrying what they learned from one another during the week they were together. Benjamin Bijaoui ’27 said, “It was very fun to collaborate with students from other cultures and musical backgrounds because they had been taught different ways, and I learned a lot from them.”

This year’s Global Concert was hosted by Qibao Dwight for the second time after a seven year hiatus. The concert’s theme was deeply emblematic of the students’ experiences making connections and friendships: “Symbiosis.” The Chinese term for the theme, “共生” (Gòngshēng), carries two meanings. “共” (gòng) means togetherness, shared purpose, collective spirit and “生” (shēng) means life, growth, and unity. As the program boldly stated, “Symbiosis lies at the very heart of Dwight’s global identity and cultural spirit.”

The night of the big show at Shanghai City Theater, students performed 18 unforgettable numbers, singing and playing a wide range of instruments, from orchestral, to rock, to traditional instruments from around Asia. With experimental music groups from Qibao, traditional fare from Hanoi, and original compositions from Seoul, the stage was filled with captivating sounds. The audience, which included every Head of School and parents from all campuses, greatly enjoyed the diverse range of genres covered. 

Dwight New York parent Iveta Stephanopoulos said, “The energy, the performances and excitement in the room were outstanding. It was beautiful to see everyone’s teamwork on the stage and behind the scenes.”

Our students had one more remarkable day in Shanghai after their successful performance. From a tea sampling that highlighted the importance of tea in Chinese culture, to the Yu Gardens and Yuyan Market, to a spectacular lunch and performance (music and dance) at Gu Yang Restaurant, to the Shanghai Museum and, of course, more food in Tianzifang Market, the day was packed with new and exciting memories.

Dwight New York student Willem Kraaijeveld ’27 reflected on the week-long tour, saying, “I felt extremely privileged and lucky to be able to go on this trip and see all these things and meet all these people… I loved every second of the trip.” Franklin Student Anayah Parkinson ’29 had a similar experience, saying, “It was truly amazing to see people from all over the world.”

We are deeply grateful to our Shanghai Qibao Dwight community for hosting, planning, and creating a beautiful musical space for the various Dwight campuses, culminating in a spectacular live event. 

Shortly after Spring Break, concert videos will be released. In the meantime, read more about the concert in this program and in this Global Network news item, which also features additional photos.