12th June 2007

Mozart, Hip Hop, Dance, Traditional and Modern Shakespeare: SJI International experienced them all during its week of the Arts at the end of May. Students, staff and parents were all involved in this family occasion. The parents performed the greatest hits of traditional Macbeth. Whilst many students would have considered the transformation of their mothers into witches as quite credible, the sensitive portrayal of Lady Macbeth by one father surely shocked his daughter.

The teachers performed in the Music Evening. Rather than more typically enthusing about the beauty of the hyperbolic function, Geoffrey Wong used his vocal chords to render most impressively a piece of Italian operetta. Meanwhile, the Chinese speaking teachers sang a traditional Chinese song (see above). A last minute plan was for the Principal to accompany them on the saxophone, which he did with trembling lip and consequently wavering tone. Most people agreed however, that his playing was far superior to his singing of the alternate verses.

The real triumph of the evening however was the magnificent performance of the students. Grade 9 had written its own contemporary Macbeth script. Whilst it took considerable liberties with the story line, it reflected a profound understanding of many of the central themes of the play and was performed both competently and with infectious spirit.

The Merchant of Venice was Grade 8’s most enjoyable contribution (see above) and Grade 7 offered A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In the latter performance a group of entertaining fairies guided the audience through the subtleties of the plot whilst the maturity of the acting of the lead characters belied their tender years.

The music evening involved performances from many students with well developed individual talents. It started with a creditable performance from a young rock group that had been guided by a father. The remarkable talent and devotion to service of piano accompanist and Grade 9 student Sarah Chong should also be mentioned. Particularly impressive was the school’s fledgling strings group (see below) that will surely be the basis for an orchestra of the future. The school will employ a full time Music teacher from September so all things seem possible.

The philosophy of SJI International is to adopt an experiential approach to learning. As a result of these productions some students who previously believed that Music was an individual battle against the graded exams are now realising it a source of profound collective joy and personal pride and fulfilment as well as an opportunity to forge close friendships with fellow performers. Similarly, William Shakespeare is recognised as an exciting storyteller and a commentator on human nature who transcends the ages rather than the sad obsession of aging English teachers.

Most crucially, the community was diverted for a week by the joy of a collective enterprise that is enabling SJI International develop a wonderful sense of family.

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