KIMEA: The Intersection of Music and Community

On the 16th and 17th of February, the SFS musicians in band, orchestra, and choir attended the National Honor Festival held at Chadwick International. These students were selected through a competitive audition process, with hundreds of musicians auditioning across the country. NHF participants persevered through challenging repertoire and long rehearsal hours, their hard work culminating in a beautiful final performance for school friends and family. To learn more about this event, I reached out to some of the attendees over the past few weeks.

For two days, Jia Dunsby (12) worked and practiced with other orchestra members from all over Korea. This year’s guest conductor was Soon-Hee Newbold, who is not only a famous composer for secondary school orchestras but also a conductor whose music is often played at SFS orchestras. “It was really interesting to have the composer conduct our piece, as she gave very specific and relevant feedback in a way no other conductor could have,” recalls Jia. Also, this event was a meaningful experience for her, as she served as the principal violist and took on responsibilities as a section leader. Even though her primary instrument is the violin, she was able to realize the beauty of the viola and how much “[she] [enjoys] playing the viola.” 

Joelle Lee (11) also participated in the festival as a singer. “Through this event, I realized how singing and common interests can bring people together,” she reflects. She was also very grateful that she got to meet musicians from different international schools, which is sometimes a rare opportunity for musicians. Because this was a different environment from what she normally experiences at school, this “reignited [her] passion and love for music” by engaging with others who are also passionate about singing and music.  

Chloe Kim (11) was also a part of the KIMEA festival and worked with other band musicians from different international schools. From this experience, she realized that even though technical skills are the foundation, “the true essence of a festival lies in the musicality rather than the technical skills.” By working with the guest conductor and also other band musicians, she is thankful that KIMEA has provided her with new learnings and takeaways, such as learning to “adjust [her] tone and dynamics to better fit the band.” 

Once again, we are proud to have these talented musicians in our SFS community. Thank you to all the musicians who have put a lot of effort into creating this wonderful music for the world!

Photo Courtesy of Korea International Music Educators Association (KIMEA)