This year, SAS Puxi had the honor to host the APAC Orchestra Festival ’09, November 19-21. The APAC Orchestra event invited string members from Hong Kong International School, Western Academy of Beijing, Taejon Christian International School, Brent International School of Manila, and both SAS schools, Puxi and Pudong.

Under the guidance of conductor Mary Siew, 17 students practiced together during the mandatory Thursday practices for many weeks. Two weeks prior to the APAC event, the orchestra held Tuesday and Thursday practices; all rehearsals ran for three hours until 6pm.

Although the preparation and rehearsals were long and quite exhausting, this dedication to music had paid off during the music festival. The students were well prepared for the long rehearsals, and three of the Puxi students were selected as soloists for Corelli’s Concerto III.

The orchestra members of APAC orchestra had the wonderful opportunity to be conducted by Dr. Joe Harrop, a professional violinist whose playing career spans several genres of music, from contemporary to mainstream classical music. Dr. Harrop holds a Masters Degree and Ph.D. from the Royal Academy of Music, London. Currently, he is a lecturer in music performance at University College Falmouth School of Music at Dartington, in Devon, United Kingdom. Like many of us, he has also been taught by Mary Siew, the SAS director of the orchestra. Students who participated in the music festival found the conductor different, mainly because of his emphasis on the importance of the second violins, violas, cellos and double bass, rather than the first violins. This was a shock for the orchestra, since many of us were taught that the first violins were the essence of the orchestra, while the rest were only supporting roles. With his idea, Dr. Harrop had given us a lesson that beautiful music was made only when all the sections of the orchestra played together as one.

The musical pieces performed at the APAC Orchestra concert on Saturday included Snowscape: St. Polten by Stephen Montague; Concerto III, Op.6, by Arcangelo Corelli; St. Paul’s Suite (First and final movement) by Gustav Holst; Divertimento by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Romanian Folk Dances by Bela Bartok. One of the most interesting pieces was definitely Montague’s Snowscape, an anti-ensemble, multi-voice canon which relied on the players’ inability to count the various notes precisely. Played at the beginning of the concert in the pitch-dark auditorium, Snowscape was yet another new experience for the orchestra.

Students who represented SAS Puxi in the APAC event were:

Violin I: Emily Weng (12), Amber Chang (11), Sam Wu (9), Alex Bi (9)
Violin II: Jocelyn Cho (12), Sean Liu (11), Ethan Tsai (11), Cindy Kim (11),
Ethan Chang (10)
Viola: Lisa Lee (12), Bonnie Boyeon Ihn (11), Mei Vern Then (10)
Cello: Chloe Kim (12), Julianna Ko (11), David Lee (10), Leo Cheung (9)
Double Bass: Jung Soo Choi

With a successful concert, the APAC Orchestra event was an excellent opportunity for students to create new friendships, experience new genres of music, and receive the valuable instruction of the guest conductor.

By Bonnie Boyeon Ihn, G11, Puxi Campus

It is often said that music is everybody’s language. November 19-21, 14 of SAS Pudong’s high school students learned the inherent truth in these words at the APAC Orchestra Festival of 2009.

This year we traveled to our sister campus—SAS Puxi—to participate in a celebration of music with four other international schools: Brent International School Manila, Hong Kong International School (HKIS), Taejon Christian International School (TCIS), and Western Academy of Beijing (WAB).

However, our journey started long before this. In early September, violinist, violists, cellists, and bassists were invited to audition for a seat in our campus’s APAC Orchestra. Results were out within a week; representing our campus this year were: Levin Zhu (10), Vincent Li (12), Helen Yu (11), Jonathon Liou (12), Leo Zhu (10), Min Kang (11), Jacob Choy (9), Daniel Lee (11), Amy Zhao (9), Charles Chang (9), Kimber Wong (10), Amie George (11), Kevin Lo (10), and Shao Yan Tan (11). This group of musicians put in long hours of practice both in after school rehearsals with their musical director, Hanrich Claassen, as well as outside of school by themselves. The pieces they were to perform this year were all brilliant in their own right and explored a variety of genres such as Baroque, classical, and contemporary.

By the time of the festival, these musicians were ready to go.

APAC festivals differ from APAC tournaments in that much of the experience is in collaborating with people from other regions of Asia who share a common interest, a common goal. In this case, that goal was to thrive as musicians and revel in music; to enthrall the audience and share their enthusiasm. When the APAC musicians first arrived, they weren’t entirely sure what to expect. Some returning players looked forward to reunions with old friends, while some first timers were thrilled by their notions of what might be ahead.

Their first rehearsal was a clear indicator that, although, individually, they were all great musicians, much work had to be put into making them sound like a true orchestra. After three days of grueling rehearsals, despite callused fingers, sore backs, and tired arms, spirits were higher than ever. In these three days, they had met amazing violinists, violists, cellists, and bassists from other international schools, and regarded them as not only talented musicians, but also new friends. From their guest conductor, Dr. Joseph Harrop, they learned to listen carefully to other sections, follow the ‘bus drivers’ (the section that was carrying the beat), and become a tighter ensemble.

In their culminating concert on the night of November 21, 2009, the APAC Orchestra gave it their all. They played their hearts out, weaving together beautiful melodies and gentle harmonies to create something wondrous; something magical, even.

That night, everyone left with smiles on their faces and fond memories in their hearts.

Soloists: Levin Zhu (Violin 1), Jonathon Liou (Violin 2), and Kevin Lo (Cello).

Puxi Campus hosts APAC Orchestra ‘09
This year, SAS Puxi had the honor to host the APAC Orchestra Festival ’09, November 19-21.
The APAC Orchestra event invited string members from Hong Kong International School, Western Academy of Beijing, Taejon Christian International School, Brent International School of Manila, and both SAS schools, Puxi and Pudong.
Under the guidance of conductor Mary Siew, 17 students practiced together during the mandatory Thursday practices for many weeks. Two weeks prior to the APAC event, the orchestra held Tuesday and Thursday practices; all rehearsals ran for three hours until 6pm.
Although the preparation and rehearsals were long and quite exhausting, this dedication to music had paid off during the music festival. The students were well prepared for the long rehearsals, and three of the Puxi students were selected as soloists for Corelli’s Concerto III.
The orchestra members of APAC orchestra had the wonderful opportunity to be conducted by Dr. Joe Harrop, a professional violinist whose playing career spans several genres of music, from contemporary to mainstream classical music. Dr. Harrop holds a Masters Degree and Ph.D. from the Royal Academy of Music, London. Currently, he is a lecturer in music performance at University College Falmouth School of Music at Dartington, in Devon, United Kingdom. Like many of us, he has also been taught by Mary Siew, the SAS director of the orchestra. Students who participated in the music festival found the conductor different, mainly because of his emphasis on the importance of the second violins, violas, cellos and double bass, rather than the first violins. This was a shock for the orchestra, since many of us were taught that the first violins were the essence of the orchestra, while the rest were only supporting roles. With his idea, Dr. Harrop had given us a lesson that beautiful music was made only when all the sections of the orchestra played together as one.
The musical pieces performed at the APAC Orchestra concert on Saturday included Snowscape: St. Polten by Stephen Montague; Concerto III, Op.6, by Arcangelo Corelli; St. Paul’s Suite (First and final movement) by Gustav Holst; Divertimento by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Romanian Folk Dances by Bela Bartok. One of the most interesting pieces was definitely Montague’s Snowscape, an anti-ensemble, multi-voice canon which relied on the players’ inability to count the various notes precisely. Played at the beginning of the concert in the pitch-dark auditorium, Snowscape was yet another new experience for the orchestra.
Students who represented SAS Puxi in the APAC event were:

Violin I: Emily Weng (12), Amber Chang (11), Sam Wu (9), Alex Bi (9)
Violin II: Jocelyn Cho (12), Sean Liu (11), Ethan Tsai (11), Cindy Kim (11),
Ethan Chang (10)
Viola: Lisa Lee (12), Bonnie Boyeon Ihn (11), Mei Vern Then (10)
Cello: Chloe Kim (12), Julianna Ko (11), David Lee (10), Leo Cheung (9)
Double Bass: Jung Soo Choi
With a successful concert, the APAC Orchestra event was an excellent opportunity for students to create new friendships, experience new genres of music, and receive the valuable instruction of the guest conductor.

By Bonnie Boyeon Ihn, G11, Puxi Campus
It is often said that music is everybody’s language. November 19-21, 14 of SAS Pudong’s high school students learned the inherent truth in these words at the APAC Orchestra Festival of 2009.
This year we traveled to our sister campus—SAS Puxi—to participate in a celebration of music with four other international schools: Brent International School Manila, Hong Kong International School (HKIS), Taejon Christian International School (TCIS), and Western Academy of Beijing (WAB).
However, our journey started long before this. In early September, violinist, violists, cellists, and bassists were invited to audition for a seat in our campus’s APAC Orchestra. Results were out within a week; representing our campus this year were: Levin Zhu (10), Vincent Li (12), Helen Yu (11), Jonathon Liou (12), Leo Zhu (10), Min Kang (11), Jacob Choy (9), Daniel Lee (11), Amy Zhao (9), Charles Chang (9), Kimber Wong (10), Amie George (11), Kevin Lo (10), and Shao Yan Tan (11). This group of musicians put in long hours of practice both in after school rehearsals with their musical director, Hanrich Claassen, as well as outside of school by themselves. The pieces they were to perform this year were all brilliant in their own right and explored a variety of genres such as Baroque, classical, and contemporary.
By the time of the festival, these musicians were ready to go.
APAC festivals differ from APAC tournaments in that much of the experience is in collaborating with people from other regions of Asia who share a common interest, a common goal. In this case, that goal was to thrive as musicians and revel in music; to enthrall the audience and share their enthusiasm. When the APAC musicians first arrived, they weren’t entirely sure what to expect. Some returning players looked forward to reunions with old friends, while some first timers were thrilled by their notions of what might be ahead.
Their first rehearsal was a clear indicator that, although, individually, they were all great musicians, much work had to be put into making them sound like a true orchestra. After three days of grueling rehearsals, despite callused fingers, sore backs, and tired arms, spirits were higher than ever. In these three days, they had met amazing violinists, violists, cellists, and bassists from other international schools, and regarded them as not only talented musicians, but also new friends. From their guest conductor, Dr. Joseph Harrop, they learned to listen carefully to other sections, follow the ‘bus drivers’ (the section that was carrying the beat), and become a tighter ensemble.
In their culminating concert on the night of November 21, 2009, the APAC Orchestra gave it their all. They played their hearts out, weaving together beautiful melodies and gentle harmonies to create something wondrous; something magical, even.
That night, everyone left with smiles on their faces and fond memories in their hearts.
Soloists: Levin Zhu (Violin 1), Jonathon Liou (Violin 2), and Kevin Lo (Cello).

By Amy Zhao, G9, Pudong Campus