The Music Festival was jointly organized by The English Academy, Kuwait and The New English School, Kuwait and took place 28-30 November 2014. The venue for all workshops and the final performance was the new auditorium of The English Academy.
203 students from 8 schools, year 5 – year 13, along with 21 music teachers participated:
British International School of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Sherborne College, Qatar
St. Christopher’s School, Bahrain
The English Academy, Kuwait
The New English School, Kuwait
Kuwait English School, Kuwait
The English School, Kuwait
The British School of Kuwait
The theme of the festival was loosely ‘Music from film and TV’
The students worked in a variety of ensembles: Orchestra, Wind Band, Senior Choir, Junior Choir, String Orchestra, Brass Ensemble, Woodwind Ensemble, Flute Choir, Rock Groups, at music selected by the ensemble director. Numerous workshops/rehearsals worked them hard, in a way not always possible in schools, in order to produce polished performances.
These rehearsal sessions were interspersed with non-musical activities to provide a little light relief! These included Wii games, ball games, making snow globes, hip-hop, making balloon animals, card tricks, juggling, raspberry pie (music programming), face-painting and set design.
The weekend culminated in a final, grand concert for participants to present the fruits of their labour. The packed audience comprised dignitaries from the participating schools, parents and friends and received the performances enthusiastically.
All the participating students and staff, departed Kuwait tired yet musically fulfilled and all took something with them that they will treasure – the friendship of fellow musicians.
Such is the popularity of the annual Music Festival that as soon as the final concert was over students were asking when and where the next one is!
