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If you’ve seen one of our orchestras in full force, heard our choirs sing in harmony, or watched one of our musical or dramatical productions fueled by passion, creativity, quick wit and powerful performances, you’ll understand why Performing Arts at BIS HCMC is something special. These experiences rival professional productions on the global stage.
But it’s not just about the big stage. Here at BIS, performing arts is a journey that begins at age 2, where our youngest learners build confidence, creativity, and communication skills through expressive activities like spoken word, dance, and song. From Foundation Stage end-of-year celebrations to joyful classroom performances, these early experiences lay the groundwork for emotional development, social interaction, and a lifelong love of the arts.
So, what sets us apart? It’s the combination of expert teachers, state-of-the-art facilities, world-renowned collaborations, a wide range of performance opportunities, and the fact that it all begins from the earliest years.
A Year of the Performing Arts at BIS HCMC
This year alone, BIS HCMC has staged nine full-scale productions and musicals, including Monty Python’s Spamalot, Legally Blonde – The Musical, The Little Prince, Antigone, and Cluedo.
Watch us behind the scenes as we rehearsed for Spamalot HERE!
Alongside these, more than ten concerts have showcased the breadth of our musical talent, from the cross-campus Philharmonic Orchestra and jazz ensemble to our electric school bands. With opportunities to explore everything from rock and jazz to classical and K-pop, Performing Arts at BIS HCMC truly offers something for every student. This inclusivity is reflected in the numbers: over 300 singers took part in our Jingle Fest Christmas Concert, more than 200 students from Years 7 to 11 auditioned for our orchestras, and over 70 performers from Years 5 to 9 brought Spamalot to life in a standout cross-campus collaboration.
It’s not only large-scale events that shine; our much-loved Teatime Recitals provide a more intimate stage for students of all ages to perform in front of peers, parents, and teachers. These relaxed yet professional settings encourage students to build confidence, share their progress, and celebrate the joy of music in a supportive community atmosphere.
We staged end of year showcases in every year group in Junior based on the theme, ‘Once Upon Today’, featured a bold series of reimagined tales that tackled real-world issues with heart, humour, and insight. And in Early Years and Infant almost 600 students performed at the end of the year with our Years 1 and 2 delighting audiences with performances from our Choir, String Orchestra, Ukulele Ensemble, Ballet and Zumba Clubs in our “Come Fly” Showcase, and Early Years Foundation Students in their end of year assemblies and celebrations.
Behind every production are hours of student rehearsals and dedicated support from our drama and music departments, AV, lighting, design, marketing, and facilities teams.
Outstanding Performing Arts Facilities
In the last few years, we’ve invested in our Performing Arts Facilities, transforming The Founders Auditorium in 2023 with a state-of-the-art 14-metre long high-resolution digital screen that theatrically opens up to create memorable moments on stage. We renovated our newly named, The Principals theatre, last year and invested in a top of the range professional grand piano, ensuring our students perform with the same calibre of instruments used by professional musicians. Our campus’ are also home to soundproofed music rooms, private practice suites, and traditional black box studios designed for movement and creative expression. These dedicated spaces support everything from early exploration to final rehearsals, providing the ideal environment for creativity and growth.
Performing Arts Collaborations and Experiences
Alongside world-class facilities, our students and teachers benefit from an exclusive collaboration with the world-renowned Juilliard School in New York, through our partnership with Nord Anglia Education. Last year, we welcomed Juilliard educators Tania Hakkim and Erin Wight to our campuses, where they led dynamic workshops in music, movement, and storytelling across Early Years, Primary, and Secondary. From coaching the cast of Legally Blonde to hosting jam sessions and Early Years SPLAT workshops, their visit brought fresh inspiration and expertise to our community. More recently, our Primary Music Teacher, Mr Rhys, completed intensive training at Juilliard in New York, ensuring that the latest thinking in arts education is brought straight into our classrooms here in Ho Chi Minh City.
Our students also benefit from exciting opportunities in the region through our collaboration with FOBISIA (Federation of British International Schools in Asia). In 2024, BIS HCMC hosted the first-ever FOBISIA Primary Drama Festival, welcoming students from Malaysia and Mongolia for three days of high-energy, hands-on drama workshops. Led by professional actors, drama practitioners, and our own talented teaching team, students worked together to explore movement, voice, and storytelling. And earlier this year, our Secondary musicians joined student performers from 14 international schools at the FOBISIA Music Intermediate Festival 2025 in Bangkok. This week, we will also be hosting the Annual FOBISIA Music Teachers’ Conference, bringing together over 150 music educators from all across Asia.
Last year, we were also honoured to welcome Mr Tim Rhys-Evans MBE, internationally recognised choral conductor and founder of Only Men Aloud, for a series of Choral Singing Days. His time with our students, teachers, and parents brought unforgettable moments of connection through song.
Across three days, Tim led a university and career talk for senior students, answering questions on everything from audition requirements and scriptwriting to studying abroad and what day-to-day life is like at a leading music conservatory. His insights gave students a clearer understanding of the diverse pathways available in music and the performing arts.
He then hosted a “Big Sing Day”, our largest ever choral event with over 400 students from Year 4 to Year 8. From Willy Wonka’s Pure Imagination to a mash-up of hits by Lady Gaga, Kylie Minogue, Madonna, and Adele, students explored a wide range of styles while learning to sing in three-part harmony.
The singing didn't stop there; we invited 80 members of the HCMC community to join us in song - including the International Choir and Orchestra, BIS Community Choir, St. Thérèse Children Choir of Chau Binh, Saigon South International School, and British Vietnamese International School, alongside students, staff, and parents from BIS HCMC.
Over the course of the workshops and performances, our students saw first-hand how music can open doors, spark confidence, and unite people in shared expression.
Effect of Performing Arts on Academic Outcomes
So, why do we invest so much time, energy, and money into the performing arts? Not only does it fuel passions and bring our community together through laughter, joy, tears, and heartfelt moments, but it also helps shape confident, creative, and resilient learners. Studies show that the performing arts don’t just create confident performers; they build focused, articulate, and adaptable students who thrive across academic subjects. From improved collaboration and communication to emotional intelligence and leadership, the benefits go well beyond the stage (Casey, 2022). Our performers become effective communicators and critical thinkers. They take the confidence built under stage lights into every classroom, exam, and future opportunity. To stand in front of a full house and perform night after night takes grit, perseverance, and ambition - qualities that shape risk-takers, innovators, and well-rounded global citizens, ready to take on any challenge that comes their way.
Building Confidence from Early Childhood
And all of this begins at age 2. From their very first years in school, our youngest learners are supported to express themselves, explore their creativity, and grow in confidence through performance. Each year, Foundation Stage children take part in end-of-year celebrations that showcase their development. In last year’s celebration, our youngest learners showcased their learning to parents through spoken word, dancing, and song. That foundation continues through the Primary years. In our recent “Come Fly” Showcase, students in Years 1 and 2 delighted audiences with performances from our Year 1 & 2 Choir, String Orchestra, Ukulele Ensemble, Ballet and Zumba Clubs, and the Year 2 Production Club.
By the time our students reach Secondary, standing in front of a crowd is second nature. Performing becomes as natural as learning to walk. This early and ongoing exposure to the stage helps our students develop remarkable self-assurance, resilience, and presence.
Fostering Empathy and Expression Through Theatre
As students move up to the Junior Campus, they each have the opportunity to join their year group’s Production Club. Every year, Primary Production Week transforms our campus into a hive of creativity, storytelling, and theatre magic.
Over the past five years, these productions have been masterfully led by Ms Anna Hogan, Head of Primary Music. Under her direction, students don’t just learn lines or songs; they develop a deeper understanding of the world around them. Last year’s showcase, ‘Once Upon Today’, featured a bold series of reimagined tales that tackled real-world issues with heart, humour, and insight:
Year 3 explored waste and resourcefulness in ‘The Borrowers’.
Year 4 delivered laughs and reflection in ‘The Big Bad Hustle’, a witty critique of food and fashion culture.
Years 5 and 6 shared a powerful message in ‘The Fairest Lie’, a moving exploration of image culture and fast fashion.
“Our students didn’t just perform, they inspired,” reflected Ms Anna Hogan. “They held up a mirror to today’s world and encouraged us to think, feel, and take action. I couldn’t be prouder.”
As we celebrate these achievements, we also said a heartfelt thank you and farewell to Ms Anna, our previous Head of Primary Music and Performing Arts, whose contributions have shaped the creative journeys of so many young performers. Her passion and leadership leave a lasting legacy.
Student Agency and Leadership in the Arts
By the time students reach our secondary campus, they are not just performing; they are leading the way. Last year, our Year 12 IBDP Theatre students reimagined the Greek tragedy ‘Antigone’ in a bold studio production. With guidance from teachers, they led the creative process from concept to stage, exploring risk, voice, and theatrical form. “As this performance is not formally assessed, it allows students the freedom to explore their creative boundaries, building skills and confidence for their IB Theatre journey over the next two years,” shared Ms Cat Molloy, Director of Performing Arts.
Student agency also shone in Live Aid 2025, a rock concert fully organised by our students, now in its second year running. From planning and promotion to lighting, sound, and performance, students ran the show, raising funds for VinaCapital Foundation along the way.
Meanwhile, Year 13 students Hieu and Kevin led our school's participation in the SAIMUSE Charity Concert, coordinating 62 musicians to perform alongside schools from across the city, in front of nearly 1,000 people.
Whether on stage or behind the scenes, BIS HCMC students are becoming confident, capable leaders, using music and drama to inspire change.
Performing Arts Alumni Success
Many of our alumni continue to shine beyond BIS HCMC, turning their passion for the performing arts into remarkable careers. Jenna, remembered for her unforgettable lead in our 2021 production of ‘Bonnie and Clyde’, is now starring in ‘Tina: The Tina Turner Musical’ on London’s West End. After completing her IGCSEs at BIS HCMC, she earned a scholarship to ArtsEd, one of the UK’s most prestigious performing arts schools, and was recently nominated for Best Graduate at the Black British Theatre Awards.
Reflecting on her journey, Jenna shared, “I really believe that when I played Bonnie in the BIS production of ‘Bonnie and Clyde’, that is where I got my confidence boost in performing, and I knew that it was what I wanted to do. The drama teachers at school really supported me with my pursuit.”
Another standout graduate, JK Kazzi, Class of 2017’s Head Boy, took centre stage in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘Blood Brothers’ productions while at BIS. Last year, he made his professional debut at the Sydney Opera House as Henry V.
These journeys are a testament to the confidence, creativity, and discipline nurtured on our stages and the powerful foundation that Performing Arts provides.
From Stage to Every Stage of Life
At BIS HCMC, the performing arts are a driving force behind our students’ growth, resilience, and success. Whether stepping into the spotlight for the first time in Early Years, directing a rock concert in Secondary, or taking their talent to stages across the world, our students leave with far more than performance skills. They gain the confidence to speak up, the creativity to problem-solve, the collaboration skills to lead, and the emotional intelligence to connect. These qualities, nurtured in every rehearsal and performance, prepare them to thrive in any discipline and every future path. From our Principal’s Theatre in HCMC to theatres in London and Sydney, the journey begins here, and the spotlight follows.
We look forward to another exciting year ahead of performing arts and we’ve already got lots to share very soon!
