January saw successive, professional, experienced and engaging musical interactions for Prem students, staff and community members.

Singer-songwriter and U.K music sensation Chris T-T returned to Prem for a spellbinding, two-week residency. Workshops, master classes, and concerts took place throughout the school, providing opportunities for dozens of students. Chris worked and spent time with Early Years, PYP and MYP students, exploring everything from composition and songwriting to poetry and politics. The residency culminated in a charity concert that raised several thousand baht for Nepalese charities that are committed to rebuilding schools in the region.

Anita McCallum, Prem’s Junior School Head stated “Chris’s collaboration with our teaching staff allowed students a unique and inspiring opportunity to explore their creativity, both through music and literacy”

Joining Chris in residence for two days of separate workshops was artist Anthony Giles, a renowned choral director, who worked specifically with students in the Middle School He led choral workshops with the Grades 6, 7, and 8 students, as well as offering a vocal master class to the whole Prem Community. The residency ended with a final master class for Grade 9 and 10 students in the Advanced Music class, who each prepared an instrumental or vocal solo. It was a highly valuable experience for all involved and we hope to see him again next year!

To complete the ‘hat trick’ of marvelous musical engagement, the nationally celebrated ‘Pro Music Ensemble’ also treated staff and students to a classical recital. K.Tasana and his musicians performed Jefre Cantu-Delesma: Requiem for violin and magnetic tape Astor Piazzolla: Histoire Du TangoNiccolò Paganini: Sonata Concertata Gioacchino and Rossini:  Sinfonia "The Barber of Seville"

Exposure to a diverse range of musical backgrounds and styles is something that we really value at Prem. As well as highlighting the range and quality of our residency and music programmes, these types of artist engagements demonstrate our continued commitment to ‘education for creativity’. 

A. Alex and A. Gina