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On Saturday, 9th March 2013 saw the return of the annual Showcase concert at Jerudong International School. Under the expert Musical Direction of Paul Edgeler, the superb Head of Music at JIS, the programme featured a dazzling variety of Musical styles, from Western Classical to much loved Broadway musicals right through to cover versions of contemporary chart hits like “rolling in the Deep” (Adele) and “A Thousand Years” (Christine Perri). Also popular with the audience were local songs such as Yang Terindah and Bukan Cinta Biasa.

Over 250 students from JIS took part in the Show, including Musicians, Singers and Dancers. A number of very talented soloists were featured during the evening, including Nathan Schaumann and Shian Li Chaim who amazed everyone with their perfectly synchronised virtuoso performances on piano.

In addition, as Principal of JIS, Andrew Fowler-Watt wrote in his opening words to the Showcase Concert programme:

“This year, I am especially pleased that the Showcase will also be featuring some special guest performers, namely the talented local singer, Maria Aires, and the Maktab Sains Muara Excelsior Singers. Back in September 2012, JIS hosted the first of what I hope will be an annual Brunei Schools Choral Festival. 15 school choirs came together for a memorable weekend of music-making. I was honoured when Festival Director Garry Thin invited me to be a guest conductor, and I found it one of the most exciting and enjoyable occasions since my arrival in this wonderful country. It was a privilege and delight to witness, at first hand, the tremendous musical talent and enthusiasm to be found in local schools. Singers from Maktab Sains were an important part of that event, so it is a particular pleasure to have them back here on the stage again.”

The concert opened with the visually and acoustically stunning “Fanfare for the Common Man”. The sound swelled throughout the magnificent Auditorium as more and more members of the massed choir filtered onto stage, with some members rising from the depths of the orchestra pit, smoke swirling around them to complete a memorable impression.

Some of the best moments of the concert featured singers – a wide variety of soloists and different choral group combinations left the audience wanting more.

Dancers of all ages filled the stage throughout the evening. Expertly and creatively choreographed (primarily by Carolyn Moran), there was a delightful blend of Ballet, modern and Hip Hop, featuring  a mix of lively, colourful Junior Dancers with more experienced Senior performers. Particularly memorable were the mini “Fiona’s” dancing in Shrek as well as the colourful dancers in the Abba medley from Mamma Mia.

In many ways, though, the JIS Orchestra were the real stars of the evening, even though they remained in semi-darkness at the rear of the huge stage, allowing the featured soloists and dancers at the front to take the limelight. Throughout the Show, the orchestra performed tightly, accurately and sensitively.

Music and the Arts are an important, highly-valued part of life at JIS. The levels of performance and the quality of teaching are both already high, as this excellent Showcase concert clearly showed. With the wonderful, inspiring Arts Centre in which students can perform, all of us in Brunei can look forward to enjoying future productions!