TAS Voices Unite for the Annual All-School Vocal Festival

On Thursday, March 19, the sound of student voices filled the Guy Lott, Jr. Auditorium as Taipei American School hosted its annual All-School Vocal Festival, bringing together choirs from Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School for a shared afternoon of music and collaboration.

The festival is one of the few moments each year when the school’s entire choral program gathers on the same stage. With hundreds of student singers participating, the event highlights not only musical performance but also the spirit of community that connects students across divisions.

Throughout the concert, audiences enjoyed a diverse program featuring selections from classical choral repertoire, contemporary works, and songs inspired by musical traditions around the world. The repertoire ranged from folk-inspired choral works to musical theater pieces and modern pop arrangements, reflecting the wide musical genres students explore in TAS choir programs.

Lower School singers opened the program with pieces such as Wild Mountain Thyme and Tyger, sharing the joy of early choral learning. Middle School choirs followed with selections including The Wise Old Owl, Sesere Eeye, and Baraka Na Wewe, incorporating rhythm, movement, and world music traditions into their performances. Upper School ensembles, including Concert Choir and Opus, presented works such as Echo, “Wait for Me” from Hadestown, and They Are Mother, demonstrating the musical depth students continue to develop as they progress through the program.

A highlight of the afternoon was the way students experienced collaboration across divisions through shared repertoire and performance. In several moments throughout the program, singers from different divisions came together on stage, creating opportunities for students to learn from one another in real time.

One example of this was Wild Mountain Thyme, where singers across divisions shared the stage, blending voices, technique, and musical interpretation into a unified performance.

“What stood out most was how naturally students were able to collaborate across divisions through shared repertoire,” Ms. Betty Chang, Middle School Performing Arts teacher shared. “In pieces like Wild Mountain Thyme, Middle School singers joined Lower School students on stage. It gave younger performers the chance to sing alongside more advanced ensembles, while older students modeled vocal technique and musical leadership. That kind of experience really reflects the vertical alignment of our choral program and how students grow over time.”

The concert also featured special performances from students who recently represented TAS in regional music festivals. Members of the IASAS Duodectet performed Shaman, which was performed in Manila earlier this month, while students who participated in the AMIS Middle School Honor Treble and Cambiata Choir Festivals in Dubai shared a selection they performed. These performances offered a glimpse into the broader musical opportunities available to TAS students beyond campus. These experiences continue to shape students’ musical development, bringing new perspectives and a deeper sense of connection back into the TAS choral program.

Preparation for the festival is a meaningful part of the learning process, requiring students to develop both independence and collaboration. As Lower School choir teacher, Chris Campbell explained, “Students are responsible for learning their parts individually, but the real growth happens when they come together as an ensemble – listening, adjusting, and building something collective. The balance is where the deepest learning takes place.”

The concert concluded with the entire ensemble joining together once more for a final Mass Choir performance, filling the auditorium with a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community sings together.

The Vocal Festival offered a meaningful glimpse into the full arc of TAS choral learning, from younger students discovering the joy of singing together to older students demonstrating the musical skills and confidence they have developed over time. More than a concert, the event celebrates shared learning, mentorship across age groups, and the sense of community that music helps build.