In February, thirteen students from Nagoya International School (NIS) embarked on an unforgettable musical journey to Singapore to participate in the AMIS Asian Honor Choir Festival. Hosted at Singapore American School, the festival brought together young vocalists from 30 international schools across Asia for a weekend of rigorous rehearsals, cross-cultural connections, and a culminating performance that showcased the power of creating music in harmony with new friends.
AMIS (the Association for Music in International Schools) is a UK-based non-profit organization dedicated to fostering high-level music education in international schools. Unlike a traditional competition, the AMIS festival is an audition-based honor choir where selected students prepare a shared repertoire before coming together to form one large ensemble. This year’s festival in Singapore was particularly special, featuring three separate choirs: two middle school choruses and one high school choir. NIS was proudly represented in all three groups, highlighting the growing strength of the school’s vocal music program.
The festival was organized by the AMIS staff, along with the host school’s music teachers, conductors, and additional volunteers. Throughout the event, students engaged in intensive rehearsals, sectionals, and full-ensemble sessions, working with esteemed conductors who helped them refine their vocal technique and musical expression. The experience was physically and mentally demanding, with some rehearsals lasting up to eight hours, but the personal sense of accomplishment each student gained was immeasurable.
The Journey to AMIS: How NIS Got Involved
NIS’s participation in AMIS is a relatively recent development, spearheaded by the school’s dedicated choir director. The journey began in 2023 when NIS participated in the AMIS Middle School Honor Mixed Choir Festival in Jakarta, marking the school’s first involvement with the organization. That experience had a transformative impact on NIS’s choir program, with students returning to school inspired and motivated to elevate their musicianship.
“Last year’s festival in Jakarta was an eye-opening experience for our students,” said the NIS choir director. “They had the opportunity to sing alongside other passionate young musicians, challenging them in ways they had never experienced before. When they returned to NIS, they brought that energy back with them, and it helped push our middle school choir to new heights this year.”
Encouraged by that success, NIS expanded its participation in AMIS this year, sending students to all three choir divisions in Singapore.
Scroll through a photo gallery of the trip
The Growing NIS Choir Program
The NIS choir program has seen significant growth in recent years. The school currently offers both curricular and extracurricular choir opportunities. The MYP Choir, which runs during the school day, included 55 students in grades 6-8 this past fall. Additionally, the Honor Choir, a secondary co-curricular activity (CCA), has grown from 12 students last year to 20 this year. While only a limited number of students are able to travel to AMIS festivals, the full Honor Choir will showcase their talents at several upcoming performances, including the school’s 60th-anniversary celebrations and the annual ACCJ/NIS Walkathon.
Looking ahead, the choir director envisions expanding the program even further. “I would love to establish a high school choir at NIS,” they shared. “We have some incredibly passionate singers in grades 8 and 9, so I believe it’s possible. Seeing our students excel at AMIS reinforces how valuable these experiences are.”
Why Music Matters in an Inquiry-Based Curriculum
Music plays a crucial role in inquiry-based education, fostering collaboration, creativity, and a deep sense of community. Choir, in particular, teaches students essential skills in teamwork and perseverance. “When you put individuals together in a choir, something magical happens,” the choir director explained. “If we are going to thrive as a global society, we need to learn how to work together, and choir is a perfect microcosm of that.”
Beyond the musical aspects, AMIS festivals provide students with rich cultural and social experiences. They interact with peers from diverse backgrounds, build friendships across borders, and gain firsthand exposure to different teaching styles and musical traditions. “For many of our students, this is their first time traveling abroad for a performance,” said the director. “The opportunity to sing with others from around the world is invaluable—it broadens their perspectives and deepens their appreciation for music as a universal language.”
What is AMIS?
Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Association for Music in International Schools organizes choir, band, orchestra, and jazz festivals on multiple continents, providing students with opportunities to grow as musicians and collaborate with peers from around the world. In addition to student festivals, AMIS also offers professional development opportunities for music educators, helping to build a global community of dedicated teachers and performers. Learn more about AMIS HERE.
