Celebrating Creativity: The ISKL Middle School Arts Festival 2025

The 2025 ISKL Middle School Arts Festival was a joyful, two-week-long celebration of creativity, culture, and community. The festival, which took place in May, serves as a dynamic platform for Middle School students to express and enhance their talents in music, drama, visual art, dance, and public speaking.

This year, the festival featured activities ranging from chalk art and creative writing to ensemble acting and vocal competitions. Highlights included lunchtime dance performances, the comedy 10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse, and a Battle of the String Quartets. The end-of-year concerts by the MS Band, Choir, and Orchestra capped off the festivities, showcasing the depth and diversity of student talent.

Thanks to the Inspire Campaign, the Middle School Arts Festival has evolved from a small-scale showcase into a standout annual event. Originally funded for two years through Inspire, the festival’s impact and popularity led to it becoming an annual event. This progression highlights Inspire’s mission to support innovative initiatives that, once proven effective, become lasting pillars of the ISKL experience.

A key feature of the festival was the strong collaboration with Malaysia’s artistic community. Seven acclaimed guest artists shared their expertise through workshops, performances, and judging sessions. These included vocalist and lecturer Jamilah Abu Bakar, award-winning violist Dr. Andrew Filmer, and Berklee College of Music-trained musician Irena Taib, who led vocal and string workshops. In the visual arts, painter Abby Zain and street artist Fritilldea inspired students through hands-on sessions, including a school-wide community mural painting project.

Drama students had the unique opportunity to work with Doppo Narita, a theatre practitioner whose career spans Japan and Southeast Asia. His workshop and judging contributions offered students a professional lens into ensemble acting. These real-world connections enriched the learning experience and fostered meaningful exchanges between students and working artists.

In addition to artistic growth, the festival emphasized cultural appreciation and community building. Events such as the Dondang Dongeng performance – a musical celebrating traditional Malaysian folktales – demonstrated ISKL’s commitment to honoring local heritage. The inclusion of students from neighboring international schools in the public speaking competition further strengthened community ties and added a spirit of friendly collaboration.

Competition categories were designed to recognize not just performance excellence but also creativity, perseverance, and audience engagement. Whether it was tone quality in the vocal competition, originality in chalk art, or storytelling in creative writing, every student was encouraged to express themselves authentically and confidently.

The community mural, led by Fritilldea, has become a symbol of shared vision and teamwork. Students, families, and employees contributed to the artwork, learning firsthand about the power of public art to reflect and shape community identity.

Festival organizer and MS Drama teacher Philippus Oosthuizen expressed his gratitude, saying, “A heartfelt thank you to every member of our community who contributed their time and energy to help the festival run smoothly. Our community’s support is deeply appreciated and continues to make ISKL a place where people engage thoughtfully, compassionately, and with purpose.”

What sets the ISKL Middle School Arts Festival apart is its holistic approach to the arts. It nurtures students as artists, collaborators, and culturally aware individuals. Through this celebration, ISKL brings its Vision to life and reinforces its commitment to providing a future-ready education where every student can thrive.

Interested in how ISKL cultivates student creativity and community spirit? Discover how our programs empower learners to grow as global citizens. Visit our Learning page.