The International School Of Penang (Uplands)

Amazing Asia!A trishaw stop......at Fort Cornwallis.The happy Uplands musicians.The Inaugural FOBISSEAPrimary Performing Arts Carnival 2011:Music, Dance and Drama.In October 2009 in Tanjong Bungah, Penang, I had the pleasure ofmeeting fourteen primary music teachers from schools in South EastAsia, to discuss the possibility of a festival of performing arts,spearheaded by Mr. John Jones, Principal of St Christopher sInternational Primary School (SCIPS), Penang. We named it TheFOBISSEA Primary Performing Arts Carnival (FPPAC).For a number of years, the FOBISSEA Music Festival has taken placein November (in Brunei, Singapore, Manila and Hong Kong to namethe most recent venues). This main music festival of the year is achallenging and demanding but highly successful event for advancedmusic students (choral and instrumental) from Year 7 and above,but including some very capable Y6 students. Uplands School hasbeen represented by many students over the years.However, it was felt that there was a need for a similar kind offestival for younger students and recently the goals and aims of ourfirst meeting in 2009 were realized.From 1- 5 March 2011, SCIPS hosted the first FOBISSEA PrimaryPerforming Arts Carnival. This was an exciting event for all concerned.The Carnival was held at Wawasan Open University and we stayedat the Traders Hotel, Georgetown.For the students there were four focus groups: Orchestra; Choir;Dance; Drama: each group led and assisted by experienced musicteachers. The theme of the Carnival was Amazing Asia . Thereforeeach focus group / workshop focused on Asian music, songs ordance.During the three days of the Carnival, each student chose to specializein one focus group and could choose 4 music / dance / drama relatedworkshops. Among the exciting fifteen workshops on offer were:Tinikling (a traditional Philippino dance) led by Mrs Bristow andMartial Arts Choreography led by Mr Ian Johnston. Other workshopsincluded Sumatran and Tabla drumming; Composing Asian stylemusic; Puppetry; Bollywood Dancing.pg4Back to Top