Celebrating BSM Summer Concert 2025, BSM Music Ensembles 2025-2026, FOBISIA Battle of the Bands 2026, and CAC on the Walls: Year 9 & Year 11

Jun 20 2025

🎺Celebrating the Summer Concert

On Wednesday evening, Bayanihan Hall came alive with music and celebration as our students from both Primary and Senior Schools took to the stage for the BSM Summer Concert 2025. The evening featured an impressive line-up of ensembles and bands, each reflecting the breadth and energy of BSM’s growing music programme.

The concert opened with our enthusiastic Junior Choir, showcasing confident and joyful singing under Ms Johnstone’s guidance. 5th Period, one of our Year 7 rock bands, followed with a lively Oasis classic, joined on guitar by Coach Ryan.

Mr Sabas led the debut performance of our newly established Junior Orchestra - part of our initiative to nurture young ensemble players. Their repertoire included Anthem for a New World by our recent Artist in Residence, Chris Koelma, who also led inspiring electronic music workshops last month.

Our award-winning band, Four Squared, delivered their signature energy with hits by Dua Lipa and Katy Perry, while the Senior Pop Singers, under Coach Vickee’s direction, performed beautiful renditions of 'Make You Feel My Love' and 'The Greatest Show.'

The ever-popular Magic Mallets percussion ensemble impressed as always with upbeat arrangements of 'Don’t Stop Believing' and 'Wake Me Up.' Bazingos, our final rock band for the evening, kept the audience captivated with 'Can’t Take My Eyes Off You' and 'Mr Brightside.'

Closing the evening in style were the BSM Orchestra, conducted by Mr Meddows-Taylor, performing Music from Beauty and the Beast and the exciting 'Hungarian Dance No. 5' by Brahms.

A heartfelt thank you to our students for their commitment and creativity, to our dedicated music staff and coaches for their unwavering support, and to our families and the wider BSM community for cheering them on every step of the way. This year’s Summer Concert was a fitting celebration of our students’ progress, teamwork, and love of music - and we can’t wait to see what they accomplish next year!

🎶BSM Music Ensembles 2025-2026

We’re excited to launch sign-ups for two of our key musical ensembles next year: BSM Voices and BSM Chamber Orchestra.

Both ensembles are exciting musical communities where members work together to prepare an ambitious repertoire, perform at major school and external events, and grow as confident, expressive musicians. Whether you're a singer or instrumentalist, this is your chance to be part of something creative, challenging, and rewarding.

Find out more about each ensemble and how to sign up using the links below:

🎻 BSM Chamber Orchestra SY 2025-2026

🎙 BSM Voices SY 2025-2026

If you are a BSM staff member or parent with orchestral or choral music experience and are interested in getting involved, please contact Mr Meddows-Taylor directly via email at jmeddows-taylor@britishschoolmanila.org.

🎸FOBISIA Battle of the Bands 2026

We’re excited to announce that applications are now open for the 2026 FOBISIA Battle of the Bands, taking place at Denla British School, Bangkok, in January. This is a fantastic opportunity for our student bands to take part in live performances, workshops, and an international celebration of music. Interested bands from Years 7 to 13 can find full details and application information here. Internal auditions will be held early in Term 1 to decide which bands will represent BSM in the preliminary round.

CAC: On the Walls

Year 9 Photography: “Looking Up, Looking Down”

This term in Art, Year 9 students have worked through a photography unit exploring how perspective can change the way we see our surroundings. Through practical workshops using DSLR cameras, students were introduced to techniques such as macro photography, the rule of thirds, and compositional framing.

The unit encouraged students to consider angles and viewpoints that are often overlooked, looking up, looking down, and observing the details of everyday environments.

Their photographs are curated into a series that reflects both technical skill development and personal interpretation of the theme, and are currently on display in the CAC. We invite you to take a look! – Ms Jackson and the Year 9 students

^{Tap left or right to see more p}^hotos

Year 11 iGCSE Art & Design

Year 11 iGCSE Art & Design students have completed a rigorous study of a wide-ranging body of work as part of their coursework submission and examinations. Over the term, the Year 11s explored individual themes through various disciplines, including 2D painting and drawing, fashion and textile design, architecture, and 3D design.

The examples of work here reflect both the breadth of the iGCSE curriculum and the diverse approaches taken by students in responding to their chosen themes. From experimental surfaces and textile manipulation to incredibly refined and detailed painting, the research and planning by the students for their portfolio shows the significant amount of talent and skill we have at BSM in the arts.

A curated selection of work is currently on display in the Creative Arts Centre (CAC). We invite the school community to view and celebrate the commitment demonstrated by the Year 11 Art & Design students. - Ms Jackson, Ms Utari, and the Y11 iGCSE students.