Welcome to ISKL’s Middle School Arts Festival, where creativity knows no boundaries and the spirit of dance, music, arts, and drama intertwine.
During two weeks, from May 14 to 29, 2024, ISKL hosted its second annual MS Arts Festival. This festival was not just a celebration of students’ talents but a testament to their hard work and dedication. It was an opportunity to highlight the importance of the arts in the MS curriculum and to recognize the significant achievements of our students. The festival served as a platform to honor the continued growth of ISKL’s wide-ranging arts programs through activities, competitions, workshops, open mic sessions, and exhibitions.
Art
The vibrant works of art, masterfully created by our talented students, transformed ISKL’s corridors into a gallery of inspiration. These artworks, each a unique reflection of our student creators, told stories and sparked conversations. The chalk art displays, a testament to their creativity, revolutionized the MS cafeteria. We are deeply grateful to MS Art teachers Meg Baxter and William Simmonds, who used their expertise to curate ISKL’s art displays, showcasing the best of our students’ work.
Dance
The Robert B. Gaw Theatre came alive with celebratory performances of cultural and artistic movement in a 60-minute dance show directed by student dancers. From classical renditions to more contemporary styles, every dance routine exuded infectious energy and captivated the audience, all made possible by MS PE and Dance Teacher Karen Palko’s vision.
Drama
The Melawati Theatre and other on-site venues, including the MS basketball courts, hosted performances showcasing our student actors’ talent, imagination, emotion, and comedy. They delivered interpretations of short plays under the guidance of Philip J. Oosthuizen, MS Drama Teacher, and student Drama directors.
Music
A chorus of sound, from orchestral ensembles to solo performances, captivated the senses of all those seated in the Robert B. Gaw Theatre. Under the guidance of MS Music Teachers Kevin Christensen, Jonathan Baird, and Vincent Cee, and supported by Ashton Anthony from the MS Music department, students charmed the audiences. They filled the theatre with the power of music.
Open Mic
Students displayed their musical talents in an informal setting, proving themselves lovers of their varying crafts. All of the performances were met with applause and encouragement. No auditions were necessary, and the confidence of the entrants was rewarded with acclaim.
Workshops
The MS Arts Festival offered a series of creative professionals-led workshops. Each discipline welcomed a guest artist to provide inspirational direction to all grade groups, encouraging a sense of imaginative brilliance to take away with them. The introduction of classical Chinese and Indian dance workshops formed the basis of movement as dance and music students collaborated with the guest artists to create a modern theater piece inspired by the sounds of Malaysia.
Competitions
Chalk Art Competition
MS students were invited to unleash their creativity on the cafeteria floor, transforming the concrete into a vibrant art canvas as they showcased their talents. The design and creations of artworks using chalk captivated onlookers to the freedom of expression, choosing a theme and considering how to illustrate their ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking.
The following winners were announced on Thursday, May 23. They were:
Award for Originality and Creativity
WINNERS: Jiayue W. (’28) and Parnika T. (’28)
Nominees: Nyla J.(‘29), Simran P. (‘29) and Linh NN (‘29)
Nominees: Dassin F. (‘29) and Chloe B. (‘29)
Award for Skill & Execution
WINNERS: YuXuan H. (’29), Anna D. (’29), Yoonseo C. (’29), and DaKyoung (Lara) N. (’29)
Nominees: Ming Ni K. (‘28) and Ivy W.(‘28)
Nominees: ZhaoZhe (Jason) Z. (‘30) and Yihan W. (‘30)
Award for Effort and Perseverance
WINNERS: Rebecca VDH (’29), Varuni S. (’29) and Sarvini PK (’29)
Nominees: Jiyeon (Julie) C. (‘29) and Sumiran M. (‘29)
Creative Writing Competition
The art of creative writing is valued in Middle School, and students are encouraged to write with passion and self-expression. The competition invited students to submit an original piece of narrative capturing their creative spirit in an open-ended genre/topic in the form of a short story (600-1500 words), a poem (not exceeding two A4 sides), or both.
The following winners were announced on Thursday, May 23. They were:
Most Original
WINNER: Ara A. (’28) for I Wish the Monsoon
Nominees: Tygo M. (‘30), Matthew A. (‘30), Colm H. (‘30), Arthur S. (‘30), Sila S. (‘30), and Leo S. (‘30) for Rifts of Destiny and Adwit W. (‘29) for Unchipped: A Journey Beyond Surveillance
Coolest Character
WINNER: Miqael AMR (’28) for Breaking Mirrors
Nominees: Xiao Jing S. (‘28) for The Daisies and Dassin F. (‘29) for Planted Memories
Best writing style
WINNERS: Tygo M. (’30), Matthew A. (’30), Colm H. (’30), Arthur S. (’30), Sila S. (’30), and Leo
S. (’30) for Rifts of Destiny
Nominees: Nadia Meares for Kefta’s Backstory, Ara A. (‘28) for I Wish the Monsoon, and Miqael Aariz M.S. (‘28) for Breaking Mirrors
Students’ Choice Award:
WINNER: Dassin F. (’29) for Planted Memories
Nominees: Adwit W. (‘29) for Unchipped: A Journey Beyond Surveillance and Miqael Aariz M.S. (‘28) for Breaking Mirrors
Public Speaking Competition
MS students were required to prepare a 3-5 minute original oratory speech on a topic of their choice, presenting a topic of a compelling nature.
Winners were announced on Thursday, May 23, and the winning orator was invited to perform their winning speech during the Art Festival’s Celebration Performance, namely:
Public Speaking
1st: Mulan (Sissi) Y. (’28) – “The importance of reading fiction.”
2nd: Aderinre (Derin) O. (’30) – “Child Corporal Punishment has no place in modern society.”
3rd: Zhaozhe (Jason) Z. (’30) – “Phones are cool but environmentally ‘unfriendly.'”
4th: Martin TXK. (’28) – “Prisons should focus on prisoner rehabilitation.”
An Arts Celebration of Unity
Above all, the MS Arts Festival was a celebration of unity in diversity and a testament to the power of collaboration. It showcased our students’ collective creativity and imagination across many disciplines, transcending language, culture, and talent. The festival was a platform where all students came together to design and create, appreciate the beauty of artistry, and forge connections that extend beyond the festival. It was a true testament to the spirit of the ISKL community.
Until next year, we are left with our Panther spirits lifted, memories created, and a sense of inspiration. The imagination and creativity of so many students fuelled us with the understanding that anything is possible in art.
We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Festival Organizers, Philip J. Oosthuizen, Meg Baxter, Natalie Beals, Zach Santosuosso, and William Simmonds, as well as other High School (HS) colleagues, including Andrea Guerra and Farah Nadhirah Chairil Anwar for their invaluable contributions to the festival guidelines and judging criteria. Additionally, we thank our Performing Arts Centre (PAC) team members, Seshadri Kalimuthu, Aaron Lee, Kimberley Leong, and Sazali Sim, for their tireless efforts in running our venues and addressing any technical needs that arose. The festival would not have been possible without the many parent and student volunteers who generously offered their help. We are deeply grateful to every community member who made this two-week festival a resounding success.
