Students travel to Singapore for AMIS

Over the Spring Festival holiday, our students Lucas C. and Hun Y. traveled to Singapore to join in the esteemed annual Association for Music in International Schools (AMIS) concert. Beside them were students from international schools in Korea, India, Shanghai, Beijing, and Singapore, making up the largest number of AMIS participants in Asia yet. Three choirs were formed – Middle School Changing Voices Choir, Middle School Treble Choir, and High School Choir, which Lucas and Hun joined under the sectional of bass one.

Lucas and Hun auditioned for AMIS nearing the end of our first quarter. They received music prior to the audition, practiced on their own, then recorded with our Choir Director, Mrs. Jin. Lucas says, “I made it before, and since I made it before, I had pressure to make it in again. So, I was just super nervous.”

Following their acceptance, Lucas and Hun practiced the seven songs to be performed at the concert on their own and with the help of Mrs. Jin. Two weeks before the concert took place, they were both tested again. “Mrs. Jin had a test for us because if our school and music teacher don’t approve us, we cannot go,” explains Hun.

Both passed and traveled to Singapore, prepared to enter into the three days of intensive practice and to perform in two concerts hosted at Singapore American School. The first performance was for students of the Singapore American School. The second was for the wider community and those related to the AMIS participants. Hun says one of our alums who is currently studying in Singapore also came in support. The High School Choir sang “Wade in the Water,” “Lovely Day,” “Boat on Tai Lake,” “Modimo,” “We Remember Them,” “Arirang,” and “This is Your Time.”

Hun says the event was initially a bit lonely as other schools traveled in large groups, but over the days, he and Lucas made friends. “AMIS is very recommended. It’s a wonderful experience,” he says. “Personally, I really did build a further understanding of singing.”

He and Lucas explained the audition process is meant to change in the upcoming year. They suggest to those who are interested to practice and, “once you get it, just keep practicing as much as you can, as much practice as possible,” Lucas says.

Both Lucas and Hun hope to join AMIS next year to continue growing in their understanding and enjoyment of music. Well done, Lucas and Hun! Way to dive deeper into your love for music and challenge yourselves.