Arts in the Lobby: In Full Bloom

With approximately 100 audience members attending from both Primary and Secondary, the event transformed the Juilliard Stage and surrounding lobby space into a lively celebration of student creativity and artistic growth. Families, teachers, and students came together to enjoy an afternoon of live performance that reflected the heart of this year’s Performing Arts season theme: Drawn to Discovery.

Throughout the showcase, students demonstrated not only developing technical skill, but also confidence, courage, collaboration, and a willingness to take creative risks in front of a live audience of peers and families.

One of the standout moments of the afternoon was Austin’s remarkable piano performance, which captivated the audience with both musical maturity and expressive confidence. The event also marked an exciting milestone for the school’s growing performing arts program, with the first-ever performances of both the Léman Contemporary Choir and the school’s new Improv Troupe. These debut performances brought a sense of excitement and possibility to the afternoon, as students stepped into new artistic challenges and supported one another through ensemble performance.

Primary students also shone throughout the event, with wonderful performances in piano, violin, and dance that highlighted the breadth of artistic opportunities available to students across the school. Another memorable moment came from Yeomin’s trumpet performance, which added further variety and musical colour to the showcase.

A defining feature of In Full Bloom was the strong sense of ensemble and community that could be felt throughout the afternoon. Students of different ages and disciplines shared the same performance space, cheering one another on and contributing to an atmosphere that was both welcoming and celebratory. This spirit of collaboration and artistic exploration strongly reflects the school’s ongoing partnership with The Juilliard School, which encourages students to develop creativity, curiosity, communication, and confidence through the arts.

Performing in front of peers can often feel intimidating, particularly for young performers, but many students embraced the opportunity to step outside of their comfort zones. Whether through music, improvisation, drama, or dance, students demonstrated resilience and courage as they shared their work publicly — an important aspect of artistic and personal growth.

Stephen Delano, Performing Arts Lead at Léman International School Chengdu, reflected on the importance of events like Arts in the Lobby:

“What makes Arts in the Lobby so meaningful is the sense of community it creates. Students from different ages and backgrounds come together not just to perform, but to support one another, celebrate creativity, and share experiences together. Seeing students take risks and receive such enthusiastic encouragement from their peers and families is incredibly powerful.”

In addition to celebrating the arts, the event also contributed to the school’s ongoing Social Impact initiatives. All tickets proceed from Performing Arts events this season are being donated to projects that support vulnerable members of the wider community.

Funds raised will support local families, elderly people in need, student volunteer initiatives, and the Chengdu Black Bear Rescue Center.

The total amount raised across this season’s Performing Arts events will be announced soon.

The event also demonstrated how the arts can bring together the wider school community in accessible and authentic ways. Rather than taking place in a formal theatre setting, Arts in the Lobby invites students and families into a shared performance environment where creativity becomes part of everyday school life. The result is an atmosphere that feels energetic, inclusive, and deeply connected to student voice.