Students Perform at Global Music Festivals
Students from the YISS Music Department have been busy participating in multiple events this semester with more events to come! Their hard work honing their skills and techniques in the practice room is paying off, allowing them to participate in selective Honor Festivals. YISS participates in events put on by KIMEA (Korea International Music Educators Association), KAIAC (Korean-American Interscholastic Activities Conference), AMIS (Association for Music in International Schools), and ACSC (Asian Christian Schools Conference). Each of these organizations offers unique opportunities for our students to collaborate with schools across Korea and Asia and to develop their musical talents and leadership skills.
On January 16, nineteen middle school orchestra students traveled to Korea International School for the one-day KIMEA Middle School Honor Orchestra. They spent all day in rehearsals, working with conductors and students from international schools all around Korea, and ending the day by performing a beautiful concert for parents and guests.
During the fall semester, high school music students from band, orchestra, and choir prepared to audition for the KAIAC/KIMEA National Honor Festival. Twenty-seven YISS students were accepted into the ensembles and headed to Chadwick International School on January 24 and 25 for two days of intensive rehearsals and sectionals with the special guest conductors Dr. Robert Gillespie for orchestra, Mr. Seth McMullen for choir, and Military 5 Expert Ignatius Wang for band.
For the first two weeks of February, YISS high school music students and teachers traveled overseas for the AMIS choir and orchestra festivals. The AMIS Honor Choir Festival was hosted by Singapore American School on February 5 to 9. When not attending rehearsals, the students enjoyed the warm Singapore weather and went sightseeing to the Gardens by the Bay, a light show, and an unexpected fireworks display. The students had a wonderful time learning from world-renowned guest conductor Dr. Cameron LaBarr and meeting other choral students from all over Asia. The festival was three days full of rehearsal, sectionals, and concluded in a fantastic concert that celebrated music from all over the world.
Four high school students were selected to participate in the AMIS Honor Orchestra Festival from February 12 to 16 at the International School of Beijing. Before jumping into rehearsals, they visited famous sites like Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall of China to learn more about the national culture and history. Some students who are studying Mandarin had the chance to use their language skills in real life. The festival was packed with rehearsals and sectionals to prepare for the closing concert which celebrated Black History Month by featuring several compositions by African American composers. The students were excited to again collaborate with conductor Dr. Kira Omelchenko who had visited YISS last year for a clinic.
On February 18, YISS hosted the KIMEA Middle School Honor Choir Festival with 172 students coming to our campus from eleven international schools around Korea. To pull off a festival of this magnitude, the YISS choir teacher, Emily Nichols, worked tirelessly to plan and organize all the details. Guest conductors from KIMEA schools and Ms. Nichols jointly worked with the two choirs throughout the day to help them achieve the beautiful sounds featured in the afternoon concert.
During the month of March, YISS will be celebrating Music in Our Schools Month with multiple in-school performances.The signature event, the Variety Concert, will take place March 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the YISS auditorium with the YISS community warmly welcomed to attend.