A Year of Expression: How Students Create, Perform and Shine?
What does it really mean to be expressive in today’s world？
As an international school, we are committed to holistic education that shapes students into well-rounded individuals. Expression here is more than just performance, it’s a way for students to discover who they are. Through the arts, our students explore ideas, build character, and connect with others. It’s a journey that nurtures their creativity, emotional intelligence, confidence, and global perspective.
Throughout this whole academic year, the arts have been a vibrant thread running through our campus life. From gallery walls and grand stages to fashion studios and community spaces, our students have created, performed, and grown. They haven’t just taken part, they have led, collaborated across boundaries, and left their mark on audiences near and far.
Performing With Pride: Celebrating Student Achievement
Dulwich Puxi Orchestra Strikes Gold at the 2025 Liszt Ferenc International Music Elite Programme
Our College Orchestra earned a Gold Award in the regional round of the prestigious 2025 Liszt Ferenc International Music Elite Programme. Guided by the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, this competition brought together top young musicians from across China. Competing against leading school ensembles, our students impressed with their precision, musicianship, and ensemble cohesion – qualifying them for the China Finals. This recognition reflects their artistry, dedication, and the strength of our music programme.
Triple Firsts at the 12th Hong Kong International Music Festival Competition
Year 6 student Eric W. achieved an extraordinary triple win at the 12th Hong Kong International Music Festival, securing first place in Drum, Ocarina, and Singing categories. Representing our ABRSM Musical Theatre and Theory programme, Eric’s talent and hard work shine as a testament to the power of nurturing passion from an early age.
Art That Speaks
IBDP Visual Arts Exhibition: "Between Worlds"
Our IBDP Visual Arts Exhibition was a celebration of our students’ final outcomes in arts, the culmination of two years of questioning, making, and reflecting, as well as the beginning of their new journey - a moment that speaks to Dulwich Puxi’s belief in personalised pathways and the importance of each student's voice. Staged at Deqiu Garden, this display was a moment of artistic transition for Jack, Cindy, and Lily (Year 13), which embodied the heart of personalised learning and self-reflection.
"Guarding the Future" Art Exhibition
Hosted in partnership with The Expatriate Centre, the United Nations, and the United Overseas Bank, this professional showcase featured outstanding work by our Year 8, 10, IB, and A-Level students. Jack (Year 13) won both Best Design and Best Visual Awards for his visionary 3D and animation pieces, while Chris (Year 8) impressed judges with his AI-generated artwork Bird on a Rod, earning the Best Creativity Award.
Performances That Move and Connect
MADD Festival 2025 in Suzhou
Our Year 5 and 6 students travelled to Dulwich International High School Programme Suzhou for the MADD Festival, a vibrant gathering of Music, Art, Drama, and Dance across Dulwich and EiM schools. Inspired by the theme “TIME,” students performed, created, and collaborated on projects that explored legacy, imagination, and the rhythms of life. It was a creative and cultural exchange, celebrating student voice and global connection in every sense.
Worldwise Festival of Music
Our Senior School musicians (Years 7–12) travelled to Beijing to rehearse, perform, and collaborate with peers from across the Dulwich family. Students returned not just with stronger musicianship, but lasting memories of friendship and connection.
International Schools Choral Music Society (ISCMS) Festival 2025
Held at the Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre, ISCMS gathered student musicians from 14 international schools. Dulwich Puxi sent one of the largest groups and they shone. From the Chinese premiere of Rio Grande to the debut of student composer Dylan Zhang’s Colours, our musicians demonstrated technical precision and bold artistry.
Music in the Wider Community
Our Primary students shared Christmas cheer with audiences at the Hilton and Amanyangyun, using music to bring people together.
Worldwise Shakespeare Festival
Our Year 7-10 Drama students joined peers from across Asia to explore Shakespeare through a modern lens. Their original piece, Language’s Labour Lost, reimagined classic characters like Romeo and Prospero in the digital age, blending AI-generated elements with heartfelt performance.
Creating Across Borders
Royal Shakespeare Company Workshop
Joseph Arkley, actor from the Royal Shakespeare Company, led immersive sessions that demystified Hamlet and The Tempest, engaging students in rehearsal techniques that built confidence and stage presence - lessons they’ll carry far beyond the theatre.
Auckland Dance Residency
From Māori Kapa Haka to contemporary and street styles, visiting artists from Auckland University transformed our gym into a movement lab. Years 1 - 8 stepped into rhythm, storytelling, and cultural exchange, with many discovering a passion for dance they never knew they had.
Muzika Yunnan Art Workshop
Inspired by the biodiversity of Yunnan, Year 6 and 7 students explored endangered species and ecological themes through collage and illustration. Their finished works were a vivid reminder that creativity and conservation go hand in hand.
3D Fashion Design Course
Partnering with haute couture designer Kimi Huang, our students used Nomad and Bambu Studio to design accessories and garments using 3D printing and draping techniques. From rhinestones to hand-painting, every detail was crafted with precision and flair. Their designs were showcased on the runway at Founder’s Day 2025.
Everyday Creativity, Lifelong Confidence
Creativity at Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi doesn’t just happen in big moments - it’s part of everyday life.
Regularly, our Primary students step into the spotlight to perform, developing confidence, stage presence, and joy.
Our Creative Arts Evenings have become a highlight of the school calendar, featuring music, drama, and visual art across year levels. Whether it’s a Chopin prelude or an AI-inspired monologue, our students continue to surprise and inspire.
At Dulwich Puxi, the arts aren’t just a subject, they’re a space where every child finds their voice. Through movement, music, paintings and drama, our students are learning not only how to express themselves but how to think critically, collaborate widely, and lead with empathy.