The harmonic sound of violins, the blasting sound of trumpets, and the angelic sound of singing voices ring in your ears as you walk along the majestic pieces of art created by middle schoolers. With each step, you replayed the experience in your head. This was an experience of a lifetime.
If you don’t already know, a few weeks ago, many of your middle school friends showcased their artistic skills at ASIAC Arts. On April 26, middle schoolers from AES, ASIC, and ASB either performed with Band, Strings, and Choir or displayed
their art at the art gallery.
Strings
The Strings section performed three pieces, starting with "M to the 3rd Power," a fast-paced piece by Carol Nunez. "M to the 3rd Power" is an energetic song that captures the essence of complexity and energy. The music is like a puzzle with lots of pieces that fit together perfectly. When you listen, it's like going on a journey with twists and turns. You can almost feel the music moving you along! With its mathematical title, it hints at layers of depth within the music. It makes you feel like you're moving along with the music, and it's so cool how it mixes math and music together. It's like a special blend of both.
They followed with "Misty Cavern," a soothing piece by Jim Kazik that brings a sense of mystery. This song is like going on an adventure in a mysterious cave. You can almost feel the mist swirling around you as you listen. It's like exploring hidden places in your mind or soul. The cavern represents an inner journey, with the mist reflecting the obscured aspects of the mind or soul. By the end, you feel like you've found something special in the fog.
The final piece was "Slumdog Millionaire," written by A.R. Rahman, combining three songs: O’ Saya, Latika’s theme, and Jai Ho. A.R Rahman is a famous composer most known for writing the Oscar-winning songs of the Indian movie “Slumdog Millionaire.” Slumdog Millionaire is a movie about how a kid who had no privileges reached the hot seat of a game show (Kon Banega Core Patti), based on his true experiences in life.
“My name is Oran, and I’m in 7th grade. I performed with ASIAC strings. Mrs. V is so nice, and I’m happy I did strings. My favorite songs to play are Misty Cavern and Slumdog Millionaire. I liked Misty Cavern because of its slow melodic tune and because of the way the orchestra can convey its emotion. I don’t really know why I like Slumdog Millionaire, but it’s just nice. There was only one string performer, not from AES. I would describe it as friendship, music, and fun. YASS, I loved it! It was better than band.“ - Oran (Grade 7)
“My name is Mika, I am in 8th grade, and I was in ASIAC strings. My favorite piece was Slumdog Millionaire because it was fun to play and sounded really good. For the ASIAC strings, we only had one boy from Chennai. I talked to him, but not a lot because we are in different sections. I would describe the experience with the words learning, fun, and musical. I enjoyed it a lot, I think it was a great experience, and I learned a lot, it made me a better player.” - Mika (Grade 8)
“My name is Mishika and I’m in 7th grade. In ASIAC fine arts, I participated in ASIAC strings as a violinist. My favorite song that we played was M to the 3rd Power because it was a beautiful and fast song that took me a while to learn since it was hard but sounded so good. I didn’t really get a chance to meet people from the other school because there was only one person, not from AES in strings, and most of my friends were doing ASIAC, so I was mainly with them. In three words, I would describe this experience as productive, fun, and playing. This was my first ASIAC experience and next year I would do it again because it was totally worth it.” - Mishika (Grade 7)
Band
The band started their performance with "Action Scene," a piece that bursts with energy, like a fast-paced movie chase. Its lively beats and exciting tunes symbolize facing tough times with courage and determination. This piece encourages listeners to tackle challenges head-on and keep pushing forward, no matter what.
Next, they played "Fragile", which in contrast to “Action Scene” takes a softer, more thoughtful approach. Its gentle melodies and tender harmonies talk about how delicate feelings and relationships can be. It reminds us to treasure every moment we have with others and handle those connections with care.
Then there's "Arabian Dances," their last piece, which whisks you away to a whole new world with its exotic rhythms and captivating melodies. It celebrates different cultures and shows how music can bring people together, no matter where they're from. This piece encourages us to explore and appreciate the beauty of diversity.
“My name is RJ, and I'm an 8th grader. In ASIAC fine arts, I played in a band as a trumpet. My favorite song was Fragile. I talked a lot with people from other schools who were in my section, so they were trumpets. Describing this experience in three words is kind of hard because it was a big thing, but I guess they would be interacting, playing, and listening. It was really fun, and missing a couple of days of school was really fun. I would do it again, but I’m going to High School next year, so I'm probably going to do MESAC.” - RJ (Grade 8)
“My name is Rohan, and I’m in 7th grade. I performed in the ASIAC band with my French horn. My favorite song that we played in the band was Arabian Dances because it's a fun piece that sounds nice. I met some people during breaks, but not that much during practices. I would describe it as loud, progressive, and fun. It was a nice experience. I learned a lot, and overall, I would do it again if I could.” - Rohan (Grade 7)
“ My name is Colin. I’m in grade 8. I performed in the ASIAC band. My favorite song to play was Arabian Dances because it was very fast-moving and loud. I did connect with multiple people from other schools. In three words, I would describe it as fun, exciting, and entertaining. I very much enjoyed this experience, and I would definitely do it again.” - Colin (Grade 8)
Choir
The Choir captivated the audience with songs such as "Bringers of Noise," "Dies Irae," and “Revolting Children.”
"Bringers of Noise" is a high-energy anthem that contains the raw power and rebellious spirit of its genre. The lyrics speak of a defiant attitude, celebrating individuality and the unyielding power of music as a means of expression and resistance. Each verse builds on the momentum, driving towards an explosive chorus that captures the essence of liberation and the shared experience of live music.
“Dies Irae” is a Latin song written by Thomas of Celano. Dies Irea began as a poem. The poem tells of the Last Judgment when the trumpet calls people to God's throne, where the saved will be set free, and the unsaved will be flung into an eternity of fire.
"Revolting Children" is a dynamic and defiant musical number from the hit musical "Matilda". With powerful lyrics and an energetic beat, the kids assert their refusal to cower any longer from unjust authority. The anthem includes themes of empowerment, justice, and solidarity, with the students proudly declaring their right to be heard and their willingness to fight for a better future. The choir also performed with a dance they made up.
“My name is Minseo, and I'm in 7th grade. I did the ASIAC choir last month. My favorite piece from the ASIAC choir was Dies Irae. I really enjoyed it. I met people from other schools, and I loved the experience. It was a really special time for me.” - Minseo (Grade 7)
“My name is Aya and I’m in grade 7. I performed in the ASIAC Choir. I really enjoyed it and it was a special experience for me. I’m not in choir so it was different. My favorite song was Revolting Children, mostly because I watched Matilda before, and I made the dance for the piece. I met 2 girls that were really nice and I helped them know the school and know the people. Even after ASIAC, I’m still in touch with them. I would describe it as special, different, and amazon. I like the opportunity of doing something like that.”- Aya (Grade 7)
Art
The fourth and final ASIAC was art. The art students worked for many days to create diverse pieces of art that they displayed in the art gallery on Saturday while the music performances were going on. Their art included paper masks with words, folding paper with spray, AI art visual, and Wari, showcasing the creativity and talent of the middle schoolers.
Ms. Willcot, one of the art teachers in the ASIAC art said: “We talked about noise and expressed feelings. We had four workshops, and each teacher taught one workshop, 2 teachers from AES, 1 teacher from ASB, and 1 teacher from AISC. We made a lot of amazing art pieces and I enjoyed having ASIAC Art for the first time.
“My name is Selma, and I’m in 7th grade. I did ASIAC art. It was so sad. My favorite art to make was the paper mache mask. It was kinda creepy because we kinda used human faces to make it. I didn’t really connect with people in art, but I met with some of my old friends from Mumbai. The experience was fun, weird, and artsy. I did enjoy the experience of ASIAC art, it was fun, and I would probably do it again.” - Selma (Grade 7)
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