Music: Bands battling it out at TISAC

Primary School Music

Welcome Back Kathryn Andersen from Juilliard

We have had a wonderful week of music making with Kathryn Andersen from The Juilliard School. She spent some time in several classes, exploring the Juilliard core works being taught across from Year 1 (Beethoven), to Year 3 (Mozart) and Year 6 (Stravinsky) .

On Thursday morning Miss Kathryn spent some time coaching our FOBISIA violinists in readiness for their upcoming trip to Singapore. It was a fantastic opportunity for them to work with a professional violinist and glean some tips on sound, posture and fingering. After school Miss Kathryn worked with the STA band and together they explored how different sections of an orchestra can make music that is supportive or contrasting. They experienced moving to the music in different ways and then listened to find out how the music showed contrast or more supportive musical gestures. It was wonderful to hear her playing sections of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, another of the Juilliard core works.

Thank you Kathryn Andersen for a great visit.

Coming soon: Ben Moermond, Bassoonist

Benjamin Moermond has been principal bassoon with the Hong Kong Philharmonic since joining in 2010. He is an active teacher and performer in Hong Kong and throughout the region. As a soloist with the HKPhil he has performed Haydn's Sinfonia Concertante, Telemann's Double Concerto for Bassoon and Recorder, and Mozart's Bassoon Concerto. As an educator Ben has been on faculty for Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts.

Prior to moving to Hong Kong Benjamin completed his studies at The Juilliard School of New York under the tutelage of Judith LeClair. He was an active chamber musician with PUFF! woodwind quintet and toured extensively in the summers with festivals including Pacific Music Festival, Lucerne Festival Academy, Youth Orchestra of the Americas, and Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca, Italy. Ben is originally from Cincinnati, USA.

TISAC Primary Battle of the Bands

A huge well done to the Shoelaces (Y6) for representing STA at TISAC Primary Battle of the Bands hosted by Bromsgrove. They gave a great performance of Counting Stars and Let Her Go, with lots of flair and confidence. You can catch Shoelaces again during Busking Week!

House Busking Week 2018

During the week of 5 March the St Andrews International School Bangkok will be filled with performers everyday before school and at break times. During Busking Week we aim to work together as a community of performers to raise some fund to support school charities. If your child would like to be involved they should look for the sign up sheet outside the Drama Studio where they can sign themselves up for a morning break zone!

High School Music

Saturday was TISAC Battle of the Bands hosted by Bromsgrove International School. 15 different schools entered the competition all hoping for the esteemed trophy.

St Andrews International School High School was represented by two amazing Bands - The Diphthongs and Part Time and we pretty much cleared up at the awards ceremony by taking 1st and 3rd place. Well done to all involved.

3rd Place - Part Time

1st Place - The Diphthongs