ISA Hosts AMIS European Honor Bands
Last week, the International School Aberdeen (ISA) was transformed into a vibrant hub of global talent as we hosted the Association for Music in International Schools (AMIS) European Honor Band Festival. This prestigious event brought together young musicians from 26 international schools, representing cities as far-reaching as Brussels, Vienna, Zurich, London, and Warsaw. The week of intensive rehearsals culminated in a breathtaking showcase concert in our Queen Elizabeth Theatre, where a capacity crowd of 300 – and a global audience of over 1000 via live stream – witnessed the incredible power of international collaboration.
Exceptional ISA Talent on Stage
Selection for an AMIS festival is a significant milestone, requiring a rigorous ‘blind’ audition against hundreds of students worldwide. This year, we were incredibly proud to have eight ISA students earn their seats in the spotlight. Five of our musicians performed with the Middle School Honor Band, while three joined the High School ensemble. For six of these students, this was a return to the AMIS stage following last year’s trip to Frankfurt, while for two of our performers, it was a thrilling debut and hopefully the first of many band experiences.
I’ve been playing the French Horn for 2 years and had the best time at AMIS making friends with people from different countries and getting to know about their cultures. This was my first proper band experience where everyone was really talented, and I was shocked how close our songs sounded to the actual recordingings by the end.
Eva, ISA student & debut AMIS performer
It was so much fun and I’m definitely going to audition every year to come!
Expert Leadership and Global Collaboration
The festival provided a unique opportunity for our students to work under the batons of world-renowned guest conductors, Edward Elkins, AMIS Emeritus member from Florida, and Dr Timothy Robblee of Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia. Under their expert leadership, students who had never met before they arrived in Aberdeen were transformed into unified, high-level ensembles by Saturday night. This logistical and artistic feat perfectly illustrates the AMIS mission: to promote excellence in music education and to bridge cultural divides through the universal language of melody and rhythm.
Music as a Pillar of the IB Journey
At ISA, we view music as a vital vehicle for developing the IB Learner Profile. Beyond the notes on the page, these students demonstrated what it means to be principled through hours of disciplined practice and open-minded as they adapted to new conducting styles and peers. As communicators, they learned to “listen with their eyes,” coordinating seamlessly with others to achieve a collective goal. Stepping onto the stage as risk-takers, our musicians built a level of confidence and poise that will serve them far beyond the concert hall.
An Inclusive Musical Foundation
The success of our AMIS participants is rooted in ISA’s inclusive music program, which begins in Preschool with specialist sessions twice a week. Every student in Grade 5 learns an instrument as part of the curriculum, ensuring that the joy of performance is accessible to all. Music for all in Middle School takes two forms – either vocal or band, and in High School it is a popular choice in the Arts options. We believe our musical structure values both excellence and participation in a unique setup. We look forward to seeing our musicians continue to grow as they return to their seats in our own ISA Choir and Jazz Band.
I am incredibly proud of how our community rose to the occasion this week. It was a joy to see so many young musicians and directors from across the continent come together at ISA to create something truly special. Our visitors were consistently impressed by the warmth and respect of the ISA student body; they truly were our best ambassadors.
Kent Walter, ISA Music Director
Seeing our own students collaborate so seamlessly with their international peers – culminating in such a high-level, moving performance – was a testament to the power of music and the friendly, inclusive spirit that defines our school.
