In January 2025, eleven Nagoya International School middle school students stepped onto an international stage in Dubai as the traveling members of the NIS Middle School Honor Choir, joining peers from around the world at the Association for Music in International Schools (AMIS) Asian Middle School Honor Choir Festival. Led by music teachers Lisa Burns and Kevin Weingarten, the experience was far more than a performance opportunity—it was a profound journey of growth, courage, and connection.
AMIS is a global organization that connects international schools through music, creating meaningful opportunities for students to collaborate, create, and grow beyond the walls of their own campuses. Its festivals are known for their emphasis on community rather than competition, bringing students together to learn challenging repertoire, rehearse intensively, and perform as a single ensemble.
This year’s Asian Middle School Honor Choir Festival brought together students from 25 international schools. In rehearsal halls and on stage, the theme of the first half of the programming, “Standing,” had a layered meaning. Students stood together as singers, learning to listen deeply and blend their voices into a unified sound. They stood for the music itself, grappling with technically demanding pieces drawn from cultures around the globe—both traditional and contemporary.
The repertoire reflected this global perspective, with songs sung in multiple languages, including German, Arabic, Malay, Swahili, and Xhosa. One particularly demanding piece set Goethe’s poem Der Erlkönig to Schubert’s dramatic composition, requiring precision, emotional depth, and linguistic focus. Another featured two songs sung in Arabic (Yumma and Biya Wala Bik) accompanied by a guest musician playing the qanun, a traditional instrument from the region—an unforgettable reminder of music’s power to bridge cultures.
For many students, it also meant stepping forward individually. Choir members introduced songs to a live audience and a global livestream, sharing their interpretations and the reasons each piece was chosen. Some performed solos; others took on musical accompaniments. These moments required bravery, but they also revealed an essential truth echoed throughout the festival: standing out does not mean standing alone.
As one student reflected, “Sometimes it is difficult to connect with each other. One way to connect is to stand together and sing.” Time and again, students discovered that individual voices gain their greatest strength when they serve the collective. Those who came to the fore did so not as separate stars, but as representatives of the group—voices within a shared purpose.
That spirit was especially clear in a haunting a cappella performance of “Stand By Me.” With no instruments to rely on, the piece could only succeed if every singer held their part with confidence and commitment. The result was a spine-tingling moment, where harmonies rose and fell through mutual trust, embodying the song’s message: standing by one another matters.
Other selections explored themes of solidarity, justice, and standing against discrimination and inequality. In “I Will Carry the Light,” the choir gave voice to the conviction that young people can—and must—be beacons for the world they hope to create. Many tongues, many cultures, one message: these students are ready to stand for something greater than themselves.
The impact of the AMIS festival extended well beyond the concert hall. Students arrived in Dubai on Wednesday evening and departed Sunday evening, filling their days with rehearsals, performances, and shared experiences. AMIS also organized a cultural outing to Kite Beach, offering students time to relax and connect informally with peers from other schools. Additional moments—swimming together in the hotel’s rooftop pool, visiting the Burj Khalifa, and exploring the Dubai Mall—deepened friendships and broadened perspectives.
According to choir director Lisa Burns, while travel is not the primary goal of these trips, it plays an important role in student growth. That growth was evident in the way students connected beyond rehearsals as well. Reflecting on the experience, Arjun shared that one of his favorite parts of the trip was what happened outside the concert hall—trying new foods during grocery runs and making friends from other schools. He proudly noted that he made nearly fifteen new friends, including one from Korea International School Jeju, a reminder that shared music often leads to lasting connections. Navigating a new cultural context encouraged independence, responsibility, and adaptability—from learning about modest dress expectations to managing personal choices like meals and schedules. Initially hesitant to mingle, students gradually grew more confident, forming close bonds and leaving the festival reluctant to say goodbye to new friends who shared their passion for music.
Musically, the learning was intense. Students rehearsed weekly starting in September and practiced independently using provided tracks. The challenge paid off. When asked about their highlights, students consistently pointed not to sightseeing, but to the concert itself—the moment when months of perseverance culminated in a powerful shared achievement.
Experiences like the AMIS Middle School Honor Choir Festival underscore why the arts are essential to a holistic education. Through music, students develop perseverance, resilience, mindfulness, and empathy—key Approaches to Learning within the IB framework and vital skills for life beyond school. They learn to collaborate without competition, to lead and to listen, and to express complex ideas and emotions with confidence.
Organizations like AMIS play a critical role in this work. For students at smaller international schools like NIS, AMIS opens doors to performing arts experiences at a scale and level that would otherwise be impossible. For educators, it provides a rare and invaluable professional community—one that uplifts, supports, and continually reaffirms the importance of the arts in international education.
As these students returned to NIS, they carried with them far more than memories of a single performance. They brought back a renewed sense of purpose, confidence, and connection—proof of what can happen when young people are given the opportunity to excel together through the arts.
But don’t just read about this amazing journey our young learners experienced…you can listen for yourself! View the full concert and be inspired by these young musicians as they stand—together—on a world stage HERE! Enjoy the magic!
Note: Guests are welcome (encouraged!) to join the NIS Middle School Honor Choir as they perform on stage on the evening of February 10, 2026 from 6:00 pm!