As the campus fills with festive spirit
and New Year melodies float in the air,
the entire Harrow Shenzhen community
is immersed in reunion, joy,
and anticipation.
In this season brimming with hope, Headmaster Mr Daniel Berry shared his sincere and thoughtful wishes with everyone in the Harrow family.
Ladies and gentlemen, pupils and honoured guests,
Happy Chinese New Year! As we welcome the Lunar New Year, we also welcome a fresh beginning—one filled with hope, prosperity, and new opportunities.
The year of the Horse, which is actually my favourite animal as it has a long and established relationship with humans and a recognizable qualities that we can all associate with and hope the new year brings elements of such beautiful core traits. There is a very famous highly acclaimed children’s novel called the ‘War Horse’ which was first published in 1982 and eventually became a successful play and film. The main focus of this story is the friendship between a boy and the horse shared mainly during the brutality and futility of the First World War. Above all the bond of friendship and loyalty shines through and shows us all that even during the darkest of times we can rely on the support of a friend. This is one of many hopes I have for our school community into the new year. The development of our community into a strong and caring place where friendship and loyalty shines in all we undertake and strive to achieve.
Chinese New Year is more than a celebration; it is a time to reflect on the past, honor family and tradition, and look ahead with optimism. It reminds us of the importance of unity, resilience, and kindness—values that continue to guide us no matter where we are in the world.
As we step into this new year, may it bring good health to our families, success in our work, and peace in our hearts. Let us carry forward the spirit of renewal, work together with determination, and face challenges with courage and wisdom.
On this special occasion, I wish everyone happiness, good fortune, and continued success in the year ahead.
Gong Xi Fa Cai. Xin Nian Kuai Le. Thank you.
As his words resonated, the stage curtain rose to unveil a Spring Festival concert that wove together tradition and youthful energy. Four student hosts—Clark, Jacky, Cathy, and Amy—stepped forward with vibrant enthusiasm to usher in an unforgettable audio-visual celebration.
Where Tradition Meets Modernity
The gala opened with a powerful lion dance—featuring eye-dotting, lettuce-picking, and blessing-bestowing performed in one seamless sequence. Each movement carried wishes of good fortune and soaring success, instantly igniting the festive atmosphere.
This was followed by a performance from the Harrow Shenzhen Chinese Orchestra, which presented the theme piece The Galloping Horses. Through a spirited dialogue between the erhu, guzheng, pipa, dizi, suona, and Western strings, the music painted a vast soundscape of horses racing across the plains. The harmonious fusion of Eastern and Western instruments reflects the Harrow Shenzhen community itself—where cultures meet and create brilliance together.
Passing the Torch,
Growing with Renewal
The angelic voices of our Lower School students are always a highlight. Joined by Year 5 pupils, the Lower School Choir performed The Year of the Horse. Their clear, pure tones carried simple and most heartfelt wishes for the new year.
A pledge of growth came from our Year 6 students, who presented On the Young, accompanied by the powerful, rhythmic beats of Chinese drums—a collective declaration of responsibility and commitment.
Year 4 children added a gentler touch with the soothing melody Little Happiness. They then performed a graceful ribbon dance titled Zhuan Yun, in which flowing silk ribbons traced poetic, traditional patterns, expressing hopes for a smooth year ahead.
The stage continued to shine with diverse talent: Year 3’s energetic street dance Let’s Go radiated youthful dynamism; Year 5’s Peking Opera mask performance Peking Opera Masks reimagined a national treasure with a modern twist; and three Lower School girls delivered a fiery Latin dance.
In Harmony: The Harrow Shenzhen Community as a Symphony
The Spring Festival stage belongs to everyone. When the Friends of Harrow parent choir took the stage to perform China in the Lights and As You Wish, warmth and strength reached a heartfelt peak.
A powerful folk performance came next. Students from Years 7 and 8 presented the vigorous and spirited Yingge Dance from Chaozhou. Their performance showcased the raw energy of regional tradition with remarkable intensity.
Finally, the grand finale was entrusted to our Year 12/13 seniors. Dressed in splendid attire, they performed the classic Cantonese New Year song The God of Wealth Arrives. Their music filled the hall with infectious joy and heartfelt festive blessings.
As the Headmaster mentioned, the Year of the Horse symbolises friendship, loyalty, and moving forward together. This Spring Festival gala—created by the entire Harrow community, from students and teachers to parents—is a living expression of these very qualities.
May every member of the Harrow Shenzhen family gallop into the new year and enjoy boundless good fortune!
