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.

Nineteen MS Orchestra students traveled to Korea International School on January 16 for the one-day KIMEA MS 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 in rehearsals, the students enjoyed the warm Singapore weather and saw 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 YISS HS 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 MS Honor Choir Festival with 172 students coming to our campus from 11 international schools around Korea. To pull off a festival of this magnitude, our choir teacher, Emily Nichols, worked tirelessly to plan and organize all the details. Guest conductors from KIMEA schools and Ms. Nichols worked with the two choirs throughout the day to help them achieve the beautiful sounds featured in the afternoon concert. 

Upcoming Events

YISS will be celebrating Music in Our Schools Month throughout the month of March 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. 

The HS Choir will also be traveling to the Philippines for the ACSC Choral Festival at Faith Academy from March 5 to 9. This trip will include experiencing the culture of the Philippines and helping the community through a day of service trips as well as learning and collaborating with students from all the ACSC schools. This trip only happens every two years so the high school choral students are excited for this opportunity to travel and make music. 

HS Jazz Band students will be a special feature for the Father-Daughter Night on March 8, playing jazz standards to help attendees dance the night away! These students will also be performing at the KAIAC Large Group Band Festival March 20 at Taejon Christian International School, where they will be judged and participate in a clinic from one of the judges. One middle school and one HS student will be participating in the prestigious AMIS Asian Honor Band, taking place at Seoul Foreign School from April 3 to 5, performing with students from all over Asia.

24 middle school Band students will be participating in the KIMEA MS Honor Band on March 11, where they will practice and perform with students from other international schools. The concert will be held at Korea International School at 3:15 p.m.