Last semester unleashed a musical powerhouse in High School. Offering a plethora of performances, we were tapping our toes ‘til the end of term! We kicked it off with the Elements Talent Show and the newly formed ISKL Philharmonic Youth Orchestra – a Middle School/High School collaborative endeavor – had their debut concert and later in the year we showcased all High School music classes in their end-of-semester concert.
To celebrate the start of the new year ISKL Singers, Jazz Band, and Jazz Combo will be rocking out at their annual Jazz Night. On top of all the performances, students and teachers are also super excited about the IASAS Cultural Convention. After high-caliber auditions, 27 members for the music team were selected; consisting of eight member teams for strings, vocals, and band, along with three pianists.
Also coming up on the calendar in the first weekend of March is the Cultural Convention for Music. Musicians participate in three events for this convention: mass-ensemble, solo, and octet. For the mass-ensemble event they will join delegates from the five other IASAS schools to create a large concert band, string orchestra, and choir. Multiple pieces are prepared before the convention and when they arrive at the Cultural Convention, they will work under the direction of a guest conductor to master these pieces, which will then be performed at the closing concert on Saturday, March 7, 2020.
The eight-member teams in each discipline learn high-level pieces for the octet event and each student in the 27-member music delegation prepares a Classical solo. After performing their octet and solo for the judges, they are given feedback and participate in brief workshops. The top octet and solo pieces are selected to be performed at the Friday night concert.
These students exhibit tremendous courage and confidence under enormous pressure. Their perseverance and incredible talent always elevate their performance. This event is rewarding and life-changing for the talented students selected. The High School teachers and students alike are excited and can’t wait to get this show on the road! There’s so much going on and we’re bursting at the seams, and right now – that’s a wrap for HS music. Make sure you don’t miss it and follow us on Instagram @isklhsmusic for all the latest news and updates.
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About Jaymin Baird
Jaymin Baird is the High School Choral teacher at The International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) and holds an MA (Music Education) and B.Mus (Music Education). Jaymin is a passionate believer in the importance of music education and its role in helping to create well-rounded students. She hopes that all of her students find joy in music and remain life-long musicians.
