2020 Alumni Gathering
A pianist, a poet, an opera singer, a storyteller, and a dancer came together to captivate their worldwide audience at the Night of the ISKL Notables virtual gala reunion on Saturday, December 12, 2020.
The annual ISKL Alumni gala reunion in December had always been a favorite for alumni able to gather in Kuala Lumpur. However, in 2020, alumni from across the globe—from Australia to Europe, Singapore to Canada—had the opportunity to participate for the first time. Despite the unusual timing for many attendees, alumni from every ISKL decade joined in on the fun.
ISKL Director of Development and Alumni Engagement, Lynette MacDonald, hosted and emceed the event, which began with a “Who Am I?” quiz to reveal the evening’s Notable guests. One by one, the guests were introduced, starting with ISKL’s Head of School and concert pianist, Rami Madani. Rami opened the evening by performing an excerpt from Erik Satie’s *Gymnopédie* on his home electric piano. Although not the ISKL grand piano, his passion and skill shone through his living room performance.
Next, Grant Venables, ISKL High School International Baccalaureate English Literature teacher and an accomplished poet, delivered an evocative recital of one of his own poems, capturing the virtual audience’s attention.
The program continued with ISKL alumna Kirstin Chavez, Class of 1987, a world-class opera performer, who wowed everyone with a stunning section of an aria from Carmen. Despite it being just after 5 a.m. in Salt Lake City, Kirstin showcased her remarkable talents to great acclaim.
Tobey Ishii Anderson, Class of 1972 and Faculty Alumni, followed as a dramatic storyteller. She shared cherished anecdotes about ISKL’s first campus, the Istana. Having started school in Grade 6 at ISKL in its inaugural year, 1965, Tobey offered a firsthand account of life at the Istana, which delighted everyone in attendance.
The final guest of the evening, Karen Palko, capped the event with a lively and engaging segment. After 38 years at ISKL, Karen’s love for the community and dance was evident as she demonstrated 20 iconic hip hop moves from the 1980s. Virtual attendees were encouraged to guess the names of the moves and join in the dancing.
In the spirit of sharing, the Notable guests hosted virtual “decks” where attendees displayed and reminisced about their ISKL mementos. Items such as vintage ISKL t-shirts, jackets, patches, yearbooks, and editions of The Fishwrap, ISKL’s first student newspaper, sparked conversations and fond memories.
The evening concluded with a special finale as former ISKL Singer Julius Lim, Class of 1995, led a heartfelt rendition of Negaraku, Malaysia’s national anthem. Kirstin Chavez lent her voice to support the performance, creating a moving and distinctly Malaysian way to end the evening.
While the Covid-19 pandemic reshaped the way events were held, the virtual gala reunion allowed ISKL to connect with its global alumni community in new and exciting ways. Although everyone looked forward to in-person gatherings again, this worldwide virtual event created a fresh tradition likely to continue in years to come.