BSM crowned FOBISIA Battle of the Bands Champions 2026, Bazingos at GBF, and LITA Artists in Residence: Musical Theatre at BSM

Music

🏆 BSM crowned FOBISIA Battle of the Bands Champions 2026

We are delighted to share that Four Squared have been crowned the 2026 FOBISIA Battle of the Bands Champions!

This year’s competition was one of the largest yet, with 45 FOBISIA schools submitting 97 bands to the preliminary round in October, and only 36 finalists invited to the Live Final at Denla British School (DBS), Bangkok, last weekend.

Four Squared returned to the competition with outstanding momentum after making their debut last year, where they earned a Silver award, and then progressed this year to achieve Gold and become overall Upper Secondary champions.

Across the event programme,Simone (Year 11), Maegan (Year 11), Alexis (Year 12), Cara (Year 11), Maia (Year 12), Kevin (Year 11), Sungwon (Year 11)andShuntaro (Year 11)took part in an experience designed to mirror real-world music industry expectations - workshops, rehearsals, production support, soundchecks, and live performance preparation - before culminating in the main competition. As part of the wider cultural experience, the band also enjoyed a longtail boat tour, exploring Bangkok’s historic canals with guided cultural stops including Wat Paknam and the Artist’s House.

Performances at the Live Final are assessed across four criteria: Musicality, Stage Presence, Technical Skill, and Professionalism. The 2026 adjudication panel brought together expertise spanning professional production, performance, and music education, including&Grammy award-winning mixer/producer Matt Lawrence, singer-songwriterMichelle SgP, educatorDuncan McKee, violinist/composerEmily Stewart, multidisciplinary performer-educatorCharles “Stitch” Wong, and multidisciplinary artist and creative leaderSteve Molter.

Adjudicators praised Four Squared’s cohesion, musical choices, and stagecraft, with particular recognition of the band’s vocal leadership and instrumental balance. One judge commented,“Everything worked perfectly together: the three voices, the violin, the energy. Can’t fault it.”Another described the performance as“Face-meltingly good,”celebrating“Three powerhouse female vocalists”who“never competed, only complemented one another.”Feedback also highlighted the group’s professionalism:“Super professional show!… I was floored with the professionalism and the emotional weight you shared!”

Mr Meddows-Taylor added: “I am beyond proud of these amazing young musicians. They learned so much from last year’s experience, and to become overall champions just one year later is phenomenal - and so thoroughly deserved. They are hard-working, dedicated musicians, supported by equally committed and supportive families every step of the way.”

Our heartfelt thanks and congratulations go not only to the band members and their families, but also to the incredible team atDenla British School (DBS)for hosting such a joyful, meticulously organised and genuinely professional event. It was a brilliant experience for everyone involved!

🎥 Watch Four Squared’s winning performance here

📸 See pictures from Four Squared’s trip here:

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🎸Bazingos Entertain at the Great British Festival

On Saturday, 31 January, BSM’s very ownBazingostook to the stage at the BGC Amphitheatre as part of the main programme of The Great British Festival 2026, and delivered a brilliant live set in front of a fantastic audience.

The festival ran across the weekend and celebrated all things UK, featuring live music, talks on visiting and studying in the UK, free British film screenings, raffles, and a lively quiz for families and friends.

To start the programme, Ross (Year 11), Jaime (Year 11), Wolfie (Year 11), and Jack (Year 11)stepped up with confidence and energy, performing a 25-minute set that drew a large crowd of BSM students, staff, and families, alongside members of the public from the wider community. Their performance captured exactly what live music should feel like: upbeat, engaging, and full of energy!

It was especially rewarding to see so many members of our school community showing support in a public performance setting, and to watch the band respond to the atmosphere. Events like this provide valuable real-world opportunities for young musicians: planning a set, playing to a wide audience, and representing the school with pride.

Well done to Bazingos for an excellent performance, and thank you to everyone who came along to support!

📸 See pictures from the Banzingos performances here:

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Drama

🎭LITA Artists in Residence: Musical Theatre at BSM

Next week, the Music and Drama Departments will welcome London International Theatrical Arts (LITA) as Artists in Residence, delivering a week of inspiring Musical Theatre workshops across the school.

Students from Years 6-12 will work with professional performers Noel and James in immersive, full-day sessions exploring song, dance, acting and ensemble performance. Working across year groups, students will build creativity, confidence and collaboration, while engaging in industry-style rehearsal and performance processes. Each day will culminate in short showcase performances in Bayanihan Hall, CAC, demonstrating key learning and takeaways from the workshops. Please see the daily schedule for Year 6-8 showcase times.

The LITA residency promises to be an energetic and memorable opportunity for students to deepen their learning in Music and Drama and experience the power of ensemble performance.

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