2025 Upper School House Music Competition Ends on a High Note!

If the House Cup in Harry Potter ignited the sense of honour of countless young people, then at Harrow Beijing, the annual House Music competition in the Upper School is the moment in the spotlight that belongs to Harrow students.

Harrow Beijing inherits the 450-year house system tradition of Harrow School in the UK. Upper School students are organised by house into small, close-knit learning communities that span year groups.

Houses are not only units for daily pastoral care and academic support; they are also big families in which students stand shoulder to shoulder at sports days, charity events, academic competitions and on artistic stages. Here, Courage, Honour, Humility and Fellowship are not just words written on the wall, but qualities that are seen and lived through every rehearsal and collaboration.

This week, amid cheers, the eagerly awaited 2025 Upper School House Music Competition came to a successful close! The House Music Competition is one of Harrow’s long-standing traditions and has always been much loved by students and teachers. From choosing repertoire and filming warm-up videos, to choreography, choir rehearsals and band practices, every house poured creativity into every second; every appearance on stage was a youth-filled festival of participation for the whole house.

Song Qing Ling
Waving Flag

Song Qing Ling House opened the whole hall’s “support mode” with the well-known Waving Flag. After the warm-up video finished, students in white tops walked from the seating area to the centre of the stage, forming neat formations with students from different year groups singing together.

On stage, students waved small flags from different countries, and some put on football shirts, recreating the passionate atmosphere of World Cup stands in the singing and rhythm. Students in the audience clapped along and waved flags to respond; the whole performance felt like a grand chorus full of team spirit and participation, showing the inclusiveness, diversity and cohesion that Song Qing Ling House has always embodied.

Churchill
Pink Pony Club

As soon as Churchill House came on stage, they turned the stage into a lively western town. Students wore cowboy hats and neckerchiefs, dressed in matching yellow checked shirts and waistcoats; some stood at the front of the stage as lead singers, others sat on a raised platform interacting with the audience, with a whole row of choristers in checked shirts and different hats behind them, creating a strong musical-theatre atmosphere for the entire performance.

Besides the multiple lead singers, there was also a student live band on stage: violin, clarinet, electric guitar and keyboard worked together, giving Pink Pony Club rich layers and a strong live feel. Students in the back row moved with the rhythm, while those at the front completed tight dance formations and interactive moves. The whole piece was vividly colourful and full of energy, showcasing Churchill House’s creativity and teamwork in music and stage presentation.

John Lyon
The Greatest Showman Medley

From the very beginning, John Lyon House’s performance carried a strong “theatre production” feel. The backdrop screen showed a deep blue starry sky, and the whole group of students in light-coloured tops stood in choral formation, while a student band at the side of the stage provided live accompaniment: electric guitar, bass, keyboard and drums lined up in a row, sketching out a complete theatre-stage effect under the lights.

Against the backdrop of the band and choir, several students walked to the centre of the stage, using song and dance to link together the whole The Greatest Showman Medley: some wore white or light-blue dresses and performed elegant dance passages under the follow-spot, like protagonists stepping down from the starry sky; others held small lights and stood quietly to form a “sea of stars” on stage, creating a gentle yet powerful atmosphere. As the music built layer by layer, lights, choir, band and dancers kept stacking together, eventually forming a lively yet delicate finale tableau that allowed the audience to truly feel John Lyon House’s dedication and care in music, performance and teamwork.

Kongzi
Baby

As soon as the intro of Baby sounded in the hall, Kongzi House’s stage instantly turned into a live concert full of youthful energy. In the back row, choir students in football shirts and T-shirts stood in neat lines, with striking illuminated letters spelling “BABY” beside them to form a clear visual focal point; on one side was the student band—electric guitar, bass, keyboard and drum kit, plus flute and violin—giving this pop song a full and richly textured live arrangement.

At the front of the stage, several lead singers and dancers used energetic moves and smiles to drive the rhythm of the whole hall, and some students came on stage in biker jackets and sunglasses, adding fun and layers to the piece. The areas on stage were clearly defined: lead vocals, dance, choir and band each played their part while responding to one another; in the audience, students swayed and cheered along with the beat, as the atmosphere rose higher and higher.

Curie
What Makes You Beautiful

As soon as Curie House appeared, they lit the stage up into a sea of green: from lower to upper year groups, students in green T-shirts and hoodies filled the stage, with green and white balloons and floral decorations on both sides creating a fresh and warm atmosphere. At the front of the stage, a student played the cello, next to a student band of keyboard, electric guitar and bass, providing solid live accompaniment for What Makes You Beautiful.

As the lead singer and rapper stepped to the front, dancers in the centre of the stage joined in; their synchronised movements matched the familiar melody, and the smiles and interactions on stage gradually drew out applause and singing from the students below. With sincere singing and collaboration, the whole performance became a light-hearted confession: in Curie House, each student’s uniqueness and sparkle is exactly what makes this big family beautiful.

Ju Ching Chu

Fire

When Ju Ching Chu House’s Fire appeared, the stage was instantly ignited in flame-like red. All members in black outfits formed an imposing choral formation, and the two lead singers used powerful stage presence to push the emotion higher and higher.

Then, students in orange-red firefighter uniforms pushed a golden trophy onto the stage, echoing the burning flames and soaring phoenix images on the screen behind. Combined with huge red-orange scarves, fan dances and creative effects such as foam “water jets”, they created a striking picture of protection and rebirth in the midst of fire. The guitars, violin and drum patterns of the live band gave the whole piece tremendous drive, fully showcasing the group’s explosive power and cohesion and delivering one of the most “blazing” stages of this year’s House Music Competition.

2025 House Music Competition Champion Announced!

Kongzi House

Amid waves of applause and cheers, the champion of the 2025 Upper School House Music Competition was finally claimed by—Kongzi House!

With a light-hearted yet technically demanding Baby, they delivered a complete presentation from creative video to live stage: stage blocking was mature and smooth, yet retained the relaxed ease and humour unique to Upper School students. The lead singers opened with confidence and the harmonies were clearly layered; the dance team and band worked in close coordination, and every move and every beat came from countless rehearsals that honed their understanding and sense of responsibility.

This championship trophy is not only an affirmation of the stage effect, but also a recognition of their team spirit, time investment and rehearsal resilience. For every student who stood on the stage, the lights and applause of this night will become an extraordinarily vivid page in their memories of youth.

At Harrow Beijing, the house system has never been an extra activity outside the timetable, but a main thread deeply embedded in students’ growth. Through the House Music Competition, students collaborate across year groups and divide up roles; on stage they learn expression and confidence, and in the preparation process they learn responsibility, communication and perseverance.

From nervously picking up the microphone for the first time to eventually being able to complete one collective performance after another with ease, they used song and dance to interpret Harrow Beijing’s core values—Courage, Honour, Humility and Fellowship.

Looking forward to next year’s stage
to more new voices and ideasand
to seeing you shine just as brightly!