2012 FOBISSEA Music Festival

As I write, we start to welcome the visitors from schools across the region to the 2012 FOBISSEA Music Festival. It is an honour and a privilege to be hosting the FOBISSEA Music Festival.  We are delighted to be joined by teachers and young musicians from The British School of Beijing, The Alice Smith School, The British School Manila, Discovery Bay International School, Dulwich College, Beijing, Dulwich College, Suzou, ELC International School, Harrow International School, Bangkok, British International School Jakarta, Kellett School, Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar, The International School of Penang (Uplands), Taipei European School and Tanglin Trust School.

They represent schools from Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Taipei, but among the students, they represent many more nationalities and many more cultures than that.  They join, for these few days, a school with cultures represented by the myriad of flags around our auditorium and celebrated just a few weeks ago at our International Day.

 This is a FOBISSEA festival and so should reinforce the values and raison d’être of the Federation.  A large part of the distinctiveness of FOBISSEA schools is their British character.  At first glance, it is challenging to think what is British about what we do, when I’ve just emphasised and celebrated our multi-national and multi-cultural character.  If we look closer, however, there are two things distinctly British about the FOBISSEA Music Festival.  We only need to look back at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2012 Olympics in London to see what that might be.

 At both ceremonies, two things stood out.  The first was the fact that Britain is a nation of many cultures.  Britain is, in fact, a nation made of several countries and so diversity is embedded in the national culture and history. At the closing ceremony, we saw traditional Morris dancing and the English Royal Ballet alongside Bhangra, a dance form from the Punjab in India.  Both represent what is special about Britain.  Embracing cultures and diversity is part of the character of Britain and us as a FOBISSEA school. 

 

The second thing that stood out from the ceremonies is of course music.  Britain draws upon influences from across the globe to make music.  Whether it’s the Beatles or Philip Glass using sitar music, or the huge interest in world music, Britain is a nation of musicians.  Many would argue that the most creative and innovative music in the world emanates from Britain today.  I would argue that the most creative and innovative music in the work will emanate from the students and teachers of FOBISSEA schools, over the next few days, here in Vietnam.

 

So, it is right and proper for FOBISSEA to host this annual music festival and we’re proud to be your hosts this time round

 

We have many people to thank for making this happen.  First and foremost, the hosts at BIS, Miss Sarah James, Mr. Ian Alexander, Miss Kat Sinker, Mr. Jonathan Scott and their small army of helpers and assistants from across the campuses.

We should acknowledge and thank the teachers from across the schools for bringing the visitors here, and for planning and running the many workshops. They made the Festival possible, but it's the students who will make the music.

We welcome them to Vietnam and to BIS and hope they have a fabulous time and that they make friends, make memories and enjoy making music.

Richard Dyer

Head Teacher
Secondary