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SINGAPORE : The Singapore School of the Arts is holding its first talent audition to select its pioneer cohort, and response has been overwhelming.
To qualify for the arts school, talented students must make it to the express stream.
It was more fun and games, rather than stressful assessments for the students vying to get into the arts school.
After being interviewed by a panel of local and international experts, the students attended dance, theatre, visual arts and music workshops to get a taste of the curriculum.
"It didn't feel like an audition. It's like a camp and it's very fun," said 12-year-old dancer Clara Pryke who applied for admission to the School of the Arts.
"The talents we are seeing so far are very much in line with talents you see all over the world. We have students coming in at the age of 12, some have had opportunity to study for a number of years, and some haven't had the same opportunity. But these students really come with the same dedication and passion to engage in the arts," said Pamela Jordan, Head of School, Chicago Academy for the Arts
While students in top arts schools specialise from year one, students at the Singapore School of the Arts will do so from year three, so they will have greater exposure.
Non-arts subjects will also not be neglected.
The school plans to implement a six-year curriculum programme which will lead to an International Baccalaureate diploma.
"There will still be maths, science, history and geography. With the same ideas of a connected curriculum, you won't know only history and that's it. There's history of art, history of dance, and it's the ideas of where we can join things together meaningfully (that is key)," said Rebecca Chew, principal of the School of the Arts.
So far, the school has managed to recruit internationally renowned experts, including Joyce Koh, who has been making her mark in music composition in Europe. She has not been back in Singapore for 20 years.
"The arts school is an important landmark, educationally, for the Singapore society. I can share the joy and the excitement of having a school dedicated to the arts and to use my creativity in education, in a way that's parallel to my composition as an artist," said Joyce Koh, head of the Faculty of Music at the School of the Arts.
The School of the Arts will also be working with experts from international top arts school such as the Melbourne Victorian College of the Arts, the Copenhagen Municipal Choir School and the Chicago Academy for the Arts.
Students who miss the audition can still apply for auditions in March and June next year. All students who apply will have a shot at enrolment during auditions.
So far competition to enter the Arts School has been keen, with over 800 students applying for 400 places in year 1 and 2 when the arts school opens in 2008. - CNA /ls
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