Senior Arts Newsletter
TERM 3, 2023/24
THE ARTS AT TANGLIN
"It starts with a spark of curiosity that is fuelled by passion. A desire to be creative while persevering through the challenges. Discovering your artistic identity through personal expression. Developing an appreciation and mutual respect for the work of others. Encouraging inclusion and diversity so everyone can participate, succeed, and achieve their personal best."
At Tanglin, we have a thriving Arts community with over 800 students participating in approximately 50 CCAs weekly, culminating in over 50 events yearly. We also achieve outstanding results in the classroom and have been awarded ‘best in the world’ for A-level 4 times in the last three years for individual Arts Subjects. Our talented teaching staff and Arts technicians work tirelessly with our students daily to offer memorable opportunities to be creative, collaborate and express themselves in the Arts, inside and outside the classroom.
This is the final edition of the Senior Arts newsletter this academic year. It has been another busy term with so many fantastic events being showcased across the Arts in the Senior school. I hope you enjoy reading about all our endeavours and we will see you again next year.
Richie Baxter Head of the Arts Faculty
DRAMA & DANCE
What a final term it has been for Drama at Tanglin! We sprinted into term three with the Musical Showcase on day two, ably led by a fabulous student team of: Liv, Annis, Lauren and Aiseece. It was lovely to see so many Year 13 students perform one last time. Thomas Edwards, our brilliant Drama technician, started at Tanglin when this group of students were in Year 7, and he has watched them grow as performers, through all their examinations and co-curricular performances, to become the strong, creative role models we see this year. We thank all the year 13 students for all their energy, commitment, and passion for Drama and Dance. They have been an outstandingly creative year group and have boogied their way through the last seven years. Following that we had our first middle school musical, Moana, with performance advice from the cast of Hamilton just days before the show, both musicals sharing the same writer, Lin-Manuel Miranda. Confessions, an applied theatre performance, was led by the visiting artist Dr Jennifer Hartley. Our year 12 examination groups created self-devised monologues, which expanded and extended our understanding of what theatre is and can be. Finally, we say farewell to our glorious Ms Connor, who led our final performance, the Showcase Café this year, a collaborative performance between Music and Drama. We will miss her and all her fabulous work during the last two years.
I will leave it to Shakespeare to show our appreciation: ‘I can no other answer make but thanks, and thanks, and ever thanks.’
Kate Edwards Head of Senior Drama
“Being in Moana was an eye-opening experience for me. I was lucky enough to collaborate with a talented cast and wonderful crew to bring the vibrant story to life. It was an unforgettable journey that showed me the great amount of effort and work that goes into a production like this one. The final show, filled with energy and passion, was a testament to our hard work and creativity.”
Tanisha Kumar (Year 8)
FILM
In Term 3, the department's focus turned to film production, with the Y12 students working on their film portfolios and the Y10 students working on their stop-motion animation coursework. We had an interesting and instructive visit to our neighbours at Mediacorp for a tour of their production facilities and a Q&A session with the Channel 8 production team.
The Group Six Day gave our IB students the chance to work in small production groups on their many diverse film projects. Students were able to hone their skills in cinematography, editing, lighting, and sound recording as well as work with students from other subjects, for example, music (see image below). Meanwhile, our A Level students got stuck into the unit on Postmodern Media with an analysis of Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
On another note, it was pleasing for us to see the UK press reporting on the importance of Media Studies, concluding that graduates of the subject have a ‘profound impact’ on the British economy and praising undergraduate courses “as vital to UK’s £108bn creative industries”. It goes on to say that the skills learnt in the subject are “crucial” and “transferable to a broad range of industries”. (The Guardian, June 2024)
Ben Astley Head of Film and Media
“IB Film had a very exciting and productive production day on the 7th of June which gave students the opportunity to complete some projects for their IB Film Portfolio. I experimented with using different lighting techniques, as well as trying out different shot types and movements using the gimbal in order to create a visually interesting short film as part of my cinematography portfolio. Having the opportunity to take the time to work on my portfolio as well as improve my practical filmmaking skills has been great, and it has allowed me to feel much more confident and comfortable using the camera, the gimbal and the lighting equipment.”
Liam Woods Mora (Year 12 student)
“Year 12 A-level and IB students visited the neighbouring Mediacorp building on June 13th. We were taken on a tour of the facilities and learned about production cycles in Mediacorp, which included getting to see a studio set of a hospital, a police station and other multipurpose studios. We were then taken to the makeup station and costume storage facility, where we learned about the work that goes into preparing actors and presenters before a day of filming. Other departments we saw included the props warehouse and editing suites, where we were taught about postproduction. Overall, the trip taught us about the process and management that goes into running multiple media productions simultaneously at one of Singapore’s largest production companies.”
Bailey Egan (Year 12 student)
ART & DESIGN
As we conclude another vibrant and productive term in the Senior Visual Arts department, we are thrilled to share the highlights and achievements of our talented students. The term was marked by a flurry of activity as our students showcased their hard work and creativity during the GCSE and A-Level exams. The dedication and passion they poured into their projects were evident in the impressive displays in our 2024 Summer Exhibition, Latitude.
The exhibition highlighted their technical skills and their independent voices as growing artists. It was a joyous occasion that brought together students, staff, and the wider community to appreciate and applaud the artistic achievements of our young artists. In addition to this, our students had the unique opportunity to participate in our Interpretations event at the National Gallery Singapore. This annual event featured a mesmerising blend of music, poetry, and visual arts, all created and performed by our students.
The ARTX CCA program continued to thrive, with senior students leading artinspired lessons for Year 3 and Year 1 students. This initiative fostered a love for art among the younger students and allowed our seniors to develop their teaching and leadership skills. Lastly, our students showcased their entrepreneurial spirit at the Summer Fete, selling beautifully crafted greeting cards. If you missed the fete, fear not! These cards are still available for purchase at the school shop. We are incredibly proud of our student's achievements and look forward to seeing their continued growth and success next academic year.
Elizabeth Anstiss Head of Senior Art and Design
“The ARTX CCA served as a fantastic opportunity for both age groups to learn from each other in a creative and enjoyable setting. I gained valuable teaching experience and developed leadership skills while nurturing the infants’ creativity. Overall, it was an incredibly fun and supportive environment for everyone involved, and amazing to see a connection form between the Infants, Juniors and Seniors.”
Nuria Williams Requena (Year 12 student)
MUSIC
Another eventful term is drawing to a close in the Senior Music Department. In addition to all the classroom learning, which is still going strong, our musicians have been involved in many events inside and outside of school.
Choral Concert at Victoria Concert Hall
Musician of the Year finals
A solo and chamber recital
Performances at the National Gallery
A trip to the FOBISIA Intermediate Music Festival at the BIS Jakarta
Performances for the Year 6 students' transition days
Music on the Piazza concert
New Zealand Male Choir concert
Performances at theSummer Fair
TTS Rockstars concert
Formal and Informal Concerts
The King’s Birthday Celebrations at Eden Hall
The Showcase Café
The graduation ceremony and end of year assemblies.
To reward them for their incredible effort and commitment, they were treated to a pizza party, and we wish them all a very well-earned summer break.
Helen Owain
“Fobisia was a great experience for me, both personally and musically. At first, I was completely worn out by the packed rehearsals that did not allow any time for relaxation. But as the second day went on, the rehearsals got more enjoyable, and my singing improved significantly. It seemed like I was at some kind of music school where I had found myself another home. I got to make friends with students from different schools, which made the trip full of life and fun. We also liked having meals at school, and I loved our frozen yoghurt just as much as singing. Personally, I cannot wait to come back again; it would be an absolute pleasure.”
Harin Lyu (Year 8)
COLLABORATION IN THE ARTS
We promote collaboration across the Arts in the Senior School, inside and outside of the classroom. These projects not only foster creativity but also encourage teamwork and interdisciplinary learning, enriching the educational experience for all involved. Here are some of the creative projects that have happened this term.
Year 7 Brighthill Temple collaboration between Music and Art
Outstanding Contribution to the Arts
An awards evening to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our talented young Artists in the senior school from Music, Art, Drama, Film and Dance.
Year 10 Collaborative Arts Day
Our Music, Art, Drama and Film students were off-timetable for a day to create a collaborative Arts performance on the theme Tanglin Community.
