ABU DHABI More than 30 young musical talents (ages 10 to 17) from the UK are in Abu Dhabi this week for a first-of-its-kind music student exchange programme between Cranleigh Abu Dhabi and its British parent school.
Both students and teachers from the UK’s 150-year-old Cranleigh School will work with students in the Saadiyat Island-based Abu Dhabi school during the week-long Cranleigh Festival that will feature workshops and public performances.
The festival, which runs from April 13 to 19, coincides with the school’s inaugural Open Day on April 18 that will give parents a chance to tour the school’s facilities.
“We are delighted to offer such a fantastic student exchange programme as we know how much pupils will get out of it,” said Brendan Law, the headmaster of Cranleigh Abu Dhabi.
The headline event will feature a joint piano recital by the award-winning Steinway artist and head of performance at Cranleigh UK, Richard Saxel, and Cranleigh Abu Dhabi’s own piano prodigy, Hanna Wu.
“It is a lifetime opportunity to interact with Cranleigh UK, which has a very strong music legacy. I am really excited,” said Wu who is in year 10.
In another performance, music exchange pupils will team up to deliver the Cranleigh Concert Platform, followed by students performing the popular musical Oliver.
All three events are open to the public.
