Music Artist in Residence: Chris Koelma, Shakespeare in the Amphitheatre: Twelfth Night, FOBISIA Senior Drama Festival 2025, & Primary Art Exhibition
![Music Artist in Residence: Chris Koelma, Shakespeare in the Amphitheatre: Twelfth Night, FOBISIA Senior Drama Festival 2025, & Primary Art Exhibition]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1747976682/britishschoolmanilaorg/ejjrlqlxehy9h7pynhar/VPANews_20.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1747976682/britishschoolmanilaorg/ejjrlqlxehy9h7pynhar/VPANews_20.png","width":400}])
Music Artist in Residence: Chris Koelma
Last week, we were excited to welcome Chris Koelma to BSM as an Artist in Residence with the Music Department. Chris has previously worked in schools in Australia, Argentina, and Malaysia, and trained formally on the electric bass. As a pedagogue, Chris draws heavily on the work of Lucy Green (2004) and has been applying informal learning to new ideas throughout his career.
At BSM, Chris led electronic music performance workshops with classes from Years 4, 8, 9, 10 and 12, using the fantastic Roland AIRA Compact devices. These hands-on sessions gave our students the exciting opportunity to explore creativity and performance through electronic music making. Year 10 were also able to link this experience to the EDM area of the IGCSE, while Year 12 were able to use music technology to begin “Experimenting with Music” as part of their IB Diploma course.
As well as student sessions, Chris also led professional development with members of the Music and Technology departments, focussing on some of the research behind Electronic Music Pedagogy. We would like to thank Chris for his time and expertise, and look forward to putting our learning into practice in future lessons at BSM!
See more in action photos here!
Shakespeare in the Amphitheatre: Twelfth Night
Join us for a magical evening of outdoor theatre with a one-hour adaptation of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, Twelfth Night!
Set beneath the open sky, this fast-paced tale of mistaken identity, love, and laughter promises an unforgettable experience for all ages. Bring a picnic, a blanket, but don’t miss this unforgettable celebration of comedy, chaos, and summer storytelling!
Location: Amphitheatre, Level 2, Creative Arts Centre
Length: Approximately one hour
Doors open at 05.00pm; Show starts at 05.30pm
Scan the QR code or click this link to reserve your complimentary tickets today!
FOBISIA Senior Drama Festival 2025
The British School Manila (BSM) is proud to host the FOBISIA Senior Drama Festival 2025. From the evening of Monday, 27 October to Thursday, 30 October, this dynamic event will welcome students aged 14 and above from across the FOBISIA network.
Participants will collaborate with ThickSkin Theatre—a renowned UK-based professional company—to explore the central prompt: "In a world of everything, what makes us real?" In response to a digital recording of Peak Stuff, ThickSkin’s award-winning production, students will deconstruct its theatrical style, examining the company’s use of physical theatre, live and recorded voice, soundscapes, projections, and real-time video feed.
Guided by these elements, students will then devise original performance pieces to be presented in a final showcase on the concluding day.
Invites to attend the festival have already been sent to IGCSE Drama, IBDP Literature & Performance and IBDP Theatre students. Please register quickly before spaces fill up. As hosts, the cost of attending this festival is significantly less than normal.
Further information is available on the festival website or contact phannon@britishschoolmanila.org
Primary Art Exhibition
The Visual Art Department warmly invites all parents and students to experience the creativity and imagination of our young artists at this year’s Primary Art Exhibition, titled Make Your Mark. The exhibition will be held in the Creative Arts Centre from Monday-Friday 02-06 June 2025, with an opening reception on Monday, 02 June at 03.00pm-04.00pm. The show will remain open throughout the week for families to visit at their convenience.
Make Your Mark brings together a vibrant and diverse collection of student artwork from Years 1 to 6, reflecting a range of learning, inspiration, and personal expression. Guests will see everything from colourful paintings and drawings to imaginative sculptures, intricate weaving, detailed printmaking, and even striking photographic works.
Each student has selected a piece they are especially proud of—art that tells a story of effort, learning, and individuality. We hope you will join us in celebrating their achievements and the many ways our students have truly made their mark this year.
We look forward to welcoming you to the exhibition!
RELATED LINKS
- Art
- Creative Arts Centre
- Drama
- Visual Art