The 2013 AISA choir festival, under the direction of 
Mr. Jack Brown from Korea International School, wrapped up two days of rehearsals, culminating in 
an absolutely wonderful festival concert on Saturday, November 9, in the SOIS theater. 

Please click on the links below to view the festival concert and to read the concert program and the festival program. The programs contain group photos and background information about the choir directors and the accompanist. The backgrounds of the directors and accompanist are quite impressive and the success of the concert was due entirely to the directors' collaborative efforts. The collective approach of the five directors contained a perfect blend of flexibility and fun and of musical rigor and high expectations. The results, as you can hear, "sing" for themselves.

YouTube link to all 5 songs of the AISA choir festival concert
AISA choir festival concert program
AISA choir 3-day festival program

The AISA festival concert was the culmination of two short, fast, furious “festival” days of rehearsal and musical collaboration. It featured musicians from the four AISA founding member schools – Korea International School, 
Senri & Osaka International Schools, Seoul International School, and Yokohama International School. In addition, twelve singers from the Kwansei Gakuin High School Glee Club joined the festival.

It was wonderful to have students from all five schools together, from Japan and Korea, from international schools 
and a local Japanese school, working collaboratively to promote cultural exchange and to create better music. 
The festival, and the culminating concert, represented all that is good about AISA.

SPECIAL MENTION
The 2013 AISA choir festival was SIS choir director Dr. Dennis Darling’s final one. Directors and coaches and teachers and ADs come and go often, especially in international schools, but that doesn't make the good-byes any easier. This is especially true in the case of someone of Dr. Darling’s stature. Dr. Darling will be greatly missed in the AISA and SIS community. Many AISA choir students approached Dr. Darling after the concert to personally thank him, a testament to the impact he has had on students’ lives.

Also, this year marked YIS AD Elliot Tracey’s third straight appearance at an AISA choir festival. Mr. Tracey, as many sadly know, will be leaving YIS at the end of the school year. But he’s already made plans to travel to KIS in Seoul next November for his fourth AISA choir event.