What a remarkable year the Performing Arts Department has had! Reflecting on our journey from the beginning of the year, when we collaboratively planned to deliver another year of exceptional experiences highlighting many firsts for our school and team fills me with pride Every moment has been a highlight, and while I know that might elicit some eye rolls or groans, I genuinely mean it. I am incredibly proud of our talented staff and students at NLCS Singapore; their dedication and growth over the past five years, from my start as Head of Music to now serving as Director of Performing Arts, have been truly inspiring. It’s been an extraordinary journey, and I look forward to what lies ahead
As I approach the end of my time at year at NLCS Singapore, I am reflecting on everything we have achieved as a school and look forward to hearing about the continued growth and success of the performing arts scene here. Throughout my journey, I have had the privilege of working with students across all levels from the budding talents in G2-3 Musical Theatre Club and training orchestra to the seasoned performers in Bugsy Malone and the NLCS Music Festival each contributing uniquely to our vibrant community This magazine highlights some of our proudest moments and offers a preview of the upcoming Arts Festival 2025. It has been an incredible experience shaping young artists and seeing their passions flourish; I eagerly await their future achievements Enjoy the magazine, and don’t forget to check out the event photos on our Firefly pages!
MSHANNAHBALDWINDIRECTOROFPERFORMINGARTS
Highlights
In order of appearance from left
to right: G1/2 strings showcase, FOBISIA battle of the bands, Junior school winter concert, Senior school winter concert, Senior school Play 12 Night, Cello ensemble, 12 Night, Senior School Musical Bugsy Malone, KG2 Christmas Show
SENIORSCHOOL ASEASONOFSPARKLE
The Senior School Music Department ushered in the festive season with a dazzling evening of music entitled A Season of Sparkle The event brought together a vibrant mix of festive favourites, classical masterworks, and contemporary showpieces that lit up the auditorium with joy, energy, and outstanding musicianship.
Grade 6 and Grade 7 students opened the evening with spirited performances that balanced festive cheer and popular classics. Their enthusiasm and commitment to musical excellence were on full display, setting the tone for a joyful and celebratory occasion
The Chamber Choir delivered an elegant and moving rendition of Seal Lullaby by Eric Whitacre, showcasing their blend, poise, and sensitivity. The Percussion Ensemble amazed the audience with thrilling performances of the Mission: Impossible Theme and The Escape Artist, demonstrating rhythmic precision and flair rarely seen at this level
The Cello Ensemble took on the dramatic and technically demanding Tango Por una Cabeza, delivering an expressive and confident interpretation that was met with rapturous applause The evening also highlighted the talents of soloists Amara Sahir and Amy Chen, whose performances on violin and flute respectively added moments of personal artistry and refinement to the programme.
The String Ensemble brought energy and focus to their performance of Beethoven’s iconic 5th Symphony, handling its bold themes and dramatic shifts with maturity. The Orchestra provided one of the evening’s many highlights with a powerful and colourful interpretation of Scheherazade, where Charles Wang's captivating violin solos were both technically brilliant and emotionally engaging earning well-deserved admiration from the audience.
As the finale approached, the Big Band took to the stage and lifted the roof with a crowd-pleasing performance of Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You, bringing festive joy and a touch of sparkle to close the concert. A Season of Sparkle truly lived up to its name each performance reflecting the hard work, creativity, and passion of the students and staff involved.
On 21st January 2025, for the very first time, our students performed outside of school, taking to the stage at the iconic Esplanade Recital Room and what an incredible evening it was!
The concert showcased a wide variety of ensembles, featuring the Percussion Ensemble, Chamber Choir, Advanced Strings, Junior Advanced Strings, Chamber Orchestra, Cello Ensemble, a Piano Trio, and a solo pianist from Grade 5 Every performance was outstanding, and the experience gave our students a genuine insight into the world of the professional musician from rehearsals through to the excitement of the performance itself.
The evening was full of memorable moments The Percussion Ensemble set the tone with an energetic and dynamic performance of Eric Rath’s The Escape Artist, truly bringing everything but the kitchen sink to their vivid interpretation! The Piano Trio, made up of Ranice, Lizzy, and Yan Wen, gave a stunningly mature and emotional rendition of Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio in D Minor, captivating everyone present with their artistry.
Another standout was the Vivaldi Four Violin Concerto in B Minor, featuring Jordan, Lana, Tyson, and Hossen, all Grade 6 students, who delivered a spirited and polished performance Zoe, from Grade 5, impressed with her poise and musical depth as she tackled Debussy’s Arabesque No.1 with remarkable ease and expression.
What struck me most about the evening was not just the individual excellence on display, but the incredible sense of unity, support, and collective spirit among our musicians. There wasn't a single "standout" because every student brought their very best, creating a magical atmosphere that made this one of my favourite student concerts of my career
This concert marks the beginning of a new tradition for NLCS (Singapore) it will now be an annual event. I am so excited to see how our young musicians continue to grow, and I truly hope that the experiences we are building together as a Music Department students, teachers, and families will last a lifetime.
MREDJEFFERIES-HEADOFSENIORMUSIC
12 NIGHT TH APERFORMERSPERSPECTIVE
Peeking out from the curtains, a blur of people took their seats. The lights dimmed, the chattering stopped, and the butterflies finally settled down. The first scene came on- a stormy, sinking ship As the play started, it was all a blurlike stepping into the body of a different person, 50 years back.
It felt like I was losing my mind while trying to memorise 5 acts in those 2 hours every Tuesday, yet still loving every single moment I spent in that room. The funniest moment will forever be during a Saturday rehearsal. Everyone looked like they were going to pass out at any second, on our last act, when Sir Toby Belch spun too quickly and fell flat on his back, and spent at least five minutes trying to stand up with his beer belly strapped onto him, like a turned-over turtle When asked jokingly about whether or not it should be included in the show , Mr Trevill responded with the quote “You all looked dead up until that point, so I wouldn’t mind it”. (To Gerard, who said he injured his tailbone due to the fall, I sincerely apologise)
ANUSHKA G8
Also known as Maria from Twelfth Night
You can find all of these photographs and more on firefly on the performing arts events pages: https://nlcssingapore.fireflycloud.asia/performing-arts/events-senior-school
When Mr. Marks confirmed this with one of his mysterious smiles, I seriously thought either I or everyone else had gone crazy But now that I’d been given the lead, I decided to do my best to honor my role. Understanding Bugsy was initially hard - the descriptions of an “all-round nice guy” and “rolling stone” seemed a little vague As we continued rehearsing, Bugsy became an “everyman” in my eyes - less an archetypal hero, and more a relatable guy. Wikipedia summed it up beautifully: “An everyman typically avoids engagement or reacts ambivalently, until the situation, growing dire, demands effective reaction to avert disaster”. That felt right.
In the end, Mr Marks’ continual support helped me grow into the role - an ordinary guy conflicted by love, greed, good nature and common sense. And in the process of learning to play Bugsy, I learned a thing or two about myself
The NLCS Music Festival, which I proposed in 2019 during my interview for the Head of Music position prior to the opening of NLCS Singapore, reflects my passion for nurturing a vibrant community within the performing arts. Drawing on my extensive experience with international music festivals across various international schools, I recognise the transformative impact of uniting talented students and staff through shared musical experiences, enriching the school's cultural environment and nurturing the next generation of musicians
After gaining the support of the other NLCS schools, it was decided we needed to make a big impact and we started looking around for other musicians and composers to work with David Lancaster was my main lecturer at university; delivering performance and composition modules. I reached out to him to see if he had contacts or interest in being a part of this project He took the challenge and composed a special piece for the Festival named ‘Unity’ I was thrilled to have him on board creating our festival finale especially for us. The lyrics were inspired by suggestions made from the students in our NLCS schools and were set to music by David for our festival orchestra and choir to perform in the finale concert.
David Lancaster’s music has been performed, recorded and broadcast internationally. ‘Strata’ was recorded by the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra, and ‘Swan’ featured by the Delta Saxophone Quartet on their album ‘Bowie, Berlin and Beyond’. The album ‘Apocalypse’ was recorded by Ex Corde Vocal Ensemble and released on Resonus Classics in 2023, featuring three of David’s large-scale choral works; his music has also been recorded by pianist Duncan Honeybourne, soprano Ana Beard Fernandez, baritone Paul Carey Jones, and the Elysian Singers of London.
Composer: DAVID LANCASTER
David’s chamber music has been widely performed: ‘Before I fall asleep, the city, again ’ (2019) has been played in London, York and Buxton by Trilogy Ensemble, ‘Canzone Sospesa’ (2023) for cello and piano was premiered in Milan and subsequently performed in Washington DC.
Ensembles that have performed his music include the Danish Radio Vocal Ensemble (‘Apocalypse’), the Kronos Quartet, (‘Still Life with Angels’), Ligeti String Quartet (‘Velocity), trombonist Ian Bousfield (‘Becoming Winter’), and Oxford Harmonic Choir (which commissioned ‘Of Trumpets and Angels’ in 2019). David’s music has been broadcast by BBC Radio 3 and national radio stations in Ireland, Denmark, Australia and the USA.
Originally from Wigan (UK), David studied at York and Cambridge universities and was for three years Composer-in-Residence at Charterhouse. He is Associate Professor of Composition at York St John University and Musical Director of York Railway Institute Band; his music is published by UYMP
LITA: NOEL SULLIVAN
Noel worked with the festival choir on performance techniques and shared his expertise in the world of musical theatre to help the students give their best performance of a Lin Manuel Miranda medley.
It was so exciting to share their industry experience with the students especially as we had some die hard musical theatre fans amongst the students.
James worked together with Noel to help the festival choir with performance techniques and shared his expertise in the world of musical theatre to help the students give their stage presence during their performance. James has worked extensively in theatre, film and TV and his eye for visual flair really helped the students add simple ideas to their performances From the start of the LMM medley with a soloist emerging from the audience to the choir joining in and having some very simple moves to make their overall performance more visually engaging - it was such a good experience for the students.
LITA: JAMES BENNETT
Noel and James have toured Asia extensively working with schools on Musical Theatre programmes and choreographing or directing shows with their company London International Theatrical Arts.
Using their combined experience to provide director, musical and choreography support for those students who are passionate about musical theatre.
We are thrilled that they will be returning during the Arts Festival to run a big project. Students opting for this workshop will work with Noel and James to prepare scenes and songs from the musical We Will Rock You.
Noel played Galileo in the UK and European Arena tour of WWRY and then moved to London’s Dominion Theatre where he played the role for the tenth anniversary, performing along side original Queen band members Brian May and Roger Taylor and meeting show producer Robert Deniro.
James was the Resident choreographer of the UK and European tour of We will rock you. He has gone on to become a leading choreographer in TV and Theatre.
The We Will Rock You workshop experience will introduce participants to the futuristic world of we will rock you, working with musical theatre professionals you will learn to perform songs and choreography from the original West End Smash hit and get the chance to rock out onstage! 14.
A team of dedicated music staff from across NLCS Dubai, NLCS London, NLCS Jeju and of course NLCS (Singapore) worked tirelessy with the students in the festival choir, the festival orchestra, the string ensemble, the cello ensemble, the concert band, and the percussion ensemble The first day was all about getting to know each other and breaking the ice with a short flashmob warm up led by James - he had every body up on their feet. Setting the tone for the 4 day festival of energy and enthusiasm
Students went straight into rehearsals with the music teachers. After all, the overall goal of the festival was to prepare a high quality finale concert for our community that was filmed
Evening activities included entertainment by a young upcoming DJ under Songwork international mentorship (Songwork is the company we partner with to offer technology and music production CCA’s for Senior School), performances by top local band ‘brb’ and an informal sharing concert - giving each individual school a chance to show off the unique talents.
Catering highlights included the unity dinner in which students were treated to cuisine that each of the NLCS school countries are traditionally known for and an incredible festival cake for desert that had every participants name featured on it.
When the concert started, I felt a small thrill that five years of proposing, planning and discussions were finally coming to fruition. The sheer energy on stage and thrill of seeing how (in just 3 days of rehearsals) the students and staff pulled together something quite incredible I might have mentioned this is my last year at NLCS (Singapore), I am moving on to pastures new after 5 years here, to be the founder of the NLCS (Singapore) music department and 5 years later the founder of the NLCS Music Festival is something that I am proud of and hope that this legacy continues for years to come.
Of course, I could not have produced such an incredible festival without the talented music teachers (below) and the support of all of the NLCS (Singapore) staff who helped Including the Friends of the Arts Parents who came together to support various logistics.
MS HANNAH BALDWIN - DIRECTOR OF PERFORMING ARTS
You can find all of these photographs and more on firefly on the performing arts events pages: https://nlcssingapore.fireflycloud.asia/performing-arts/events-senior-school
June 18-21, our school will transform into a lively arts hub for our annual Arts Festival, featuring over 40 events, workshops led by industry experts, and a spectacular Battle of the Bands finale at the summer festival This celebration of creativity is a must-attend for our community, offering four days of inspiration and talent.
The theme, 'The Future,' was chosen by our students and guides all activities across dance, drama, music, and visual arts Our festival logo, designed by Sebastian in G3, beautifully embodies this theme and sets the tone for an incredible event stay tuned for more updates!
Starting with the Opening Ceremony the events happening during the Arts Festival are sure to dazzle and are well worth attending We have everything from formal concerts, Young Directors, Dance Show, Recitals, Film showings, Morning Music Express, Lunchtime concerts all finishing with Battle of the Bands on the field as part of the Saturday summer festival and signalling the end of the Arts Festival
There are so many artists on this years festival who will be visiting and offering opportunities to explore Dance, Music, Drama and Visual Arts. See below for the first glance at whats happening plus to find the QR code to reserve tickets for events
There will be an Arts Festival brochure that will have comprehensive information about every show and every artist. Plus a schedule to help you plan your visits and make the most of the exceptional offer of Arts Activities over the 4 day Arts Festival
Artists will be working with students on a variety of projects to explore the them of ‘The future’ through the performing and visual arts. Students in Senior School were given the opportunity to sign up on SOCS and choose which projects to participate in over 5 workshop sessions (including departmental activities). Junior School will also be working on performing and visual arts activities through specially planned activities and projects. There will be visitors working with certain grades and all of Junior School will be attending or participating in a performance every day of the Arts Festival
This year is bigger and better than previous years with the development of student led projects during the Arts Festival. We have an school F1 team running futuristic car design projects, a literary film being produce, creative canvas and procreate masterclasses - all designed and led by students who went through a proposal and selection process We have also added a house performance competition for Junior school after the success of the house competition in Senior school last year The Arts Festival 2025 is not to be missed!
ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT THE ARTS?
We would appreciate your support in managing event duties and assisting with performances. Please contact Ms Hannah Baldwin (Director of Performing Arts) for more information.
hbaldwin@nlcssingapore.sg
For more information about upcoming events and opportunities, please lookf out for announcements in our weekly newsletter - The Buss Brief, or on our performing arts firefly page.
