The most memorable moments I have had as a student at YCIS Shanghai are the ones where I was on stage performing. As a musician, my journey in the performing arts started seven years ago, at the age of ten, when I went on stage for the first time to perform a piano solo at a school talent show in front of a crowd of around 100 people. As nerve-racking as it was, the experience sparked in me an interest in performing that has never been extinguished.

Fast forward seven years, I am now a Year 13 student, and performing is a regular part of my school life. Every year, I perform at formal recitals, winter and summer concerts, and social events. The Performing Arts department at YCIS Shanghai never ceases to amaze me in how many performance opportunities it has to offer. In my most recent performance this year, I played a solo piano piece, an original composition, and joined a band to perform a composition by a classmate. Aside from me, students from Years 10 and 11 also serenaded us with various piano solos, group performances, and even a traditional Chinese ensemble performance.

To me, one of the greatest things about performing is how motivating the thought of sharing your craft with an audience is, as well as the rewarding feeling that comes when you bow to a round of applause. These are some the memories that will stay with me even after I graduate YCIS Shanghai, and carry on my pursuit of Music at university level. For the past seven years, performing at this school has motivated me, inspired me, and challenged me to improve. That’s what I love about performing arts at YCIS Shanghai.

By Kevin, Year 13, YCIS Pudong Secondary