Journeys of Discovery

All SOTA Year 3 students get to take part in an Overseas Immersion Programme (OIP) designed to expose them to a variety of culturally diverse arts learning environments beyond Singapore. The OIP is part of SOTA’s aim to stretch the boundaries of students’ artistic and academic thinking and abilities, broaden their perspectives, and challenge them in ways that develop their character.

This year, the students each travelled to one of five different destinations: Brisbane, Copenhagen, Yunnan, Philippines and Chicago. Students assigned to the Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre in Brisbane found themselves in a back to basics environment that sharpened their physical and mental discipline and focus, and encouraged them to explore freely with movement of their bodies to become better actors.

At Sankt Annae Gymnasium (SAG), the Copenhagen Municipal Choir School, music students honed their musical techniques in voice and instrumental masterclasses, observed rehearsals by the school’s choirs, and held a mini recital with SAG students.

A visit to the Yunnan Arts Institute in China opened a window to the cultures of the region’s minority tribes for a group of visual arts and music students, who participated in drawing and sculpture classes, learned about the distinctive technique of Chinese ink painting and philosophy of eminent Chinese artist Qi Baishi, and discovered the history of traditional instruments such as the water drum of the De Ang people.

Dance students were assigned to either the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA) or the Chicago Academy for the Arts (CAA). Those who went to PHSA learnt Filipino folk dance and gained a deeper understanding of choreography, while those at CAA had the privilege of attending a masterclass with the assistant director of the Joffrey Ballet, and through homestays with American families, got to experience a little of the American way of life.

These wonderful learning journeys not only enriched students’ artistic understanding and practice of techniques, but also gave them fascinating insights into the influence of geography and culture on the arts – all of which they can continue to draw on in their own artistic growth.

“Zen Zen Zo is challenging for us, and the bar just keeps getting tougher and tougher. But altogether we learn to keep up and remember what we have learnt. We persist and climb up the mountain together and strive together. Lessons have been very focused, we pay a lot of attention and give a lot during all the sessions. Here we have to try our best so when we create, we craft beautiful things. Being extremely close to nature would contribute to that. It definitely consolidated my understanding of theatre and brought it to a new level. Zen Zen Zo has taught me to take risks and how to fully commit to theatre or whatever I am doing,” – theatre student Kelly Rachel Ai-Chen Palmer

“Through observing the passion the people had for their music and culture, I feel a greater need to preserve, take pride in and love my own traditions, values and heritage.” – music student Danielle Goh

“At the Philippine High School for the Arts, I learnt that there are more than 360 types of Filipino folk dance. All the students there are very passionate about their art form. What we can learn from them is their spirit, openness, passion and determination.” – dance student Judith Soh

“Participating in this programme has challenged my understanding of my art form, helped me consolidate what I previously understood and learnt, and helped me realise how music can be a common language and that is how we communicate and make friends with people from other cultures. I learnt about a new singing style, “Bel Canto”, from watching the Royal Opera: Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. I am motivated to try and be like the opera singers. From the masterclasses at Sankt Annae Gymnasium, I have also learnt new singing techniques and how to take care of my voice.” - music student Lydia Lim

“Through the drawing classes I attended at Yunnan Arts Institute, I learnt how light affects pictures and how to capture scenery and people’s emotions and behaviour on paper. The trip developed my self-awareness about other cultures. I also enjoyed interacting with students from the Yunnan Arts Institute, who were very friendly and welcoming.” - visual arts student Tang Xiaow Jun