ASB Students Shine at AMIS MS Honor Orchestra in the Hague

Six Middle School students recently participated in the AMIS Middle School Honor Orchestra that took place in the Hague, Netherlands.

The orchestra included 63 students from 15 international schools, who all auditioned last October through a highly rigorous process, competing against hundreds of other students within Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. After being accepted, the students practiced for 5 months in their respective schools, learning the music to the best of their ability to prepare for the festival.

The students were extremely busy as they rehearsed as an ensemble for up to 6 hours a day, culminating in an extraordinary performance on the Saturday evening at the historic Marekerk, a protestant church in Leiden that is over 300 years old. 

The festival was led by our very own ASB string orchestra teacher Guillaume Odendaal, directing all rehearsals and conducting the final concert. He spent many hours selecting the repertoire and preparing the music for all the students. 

Special mention to Angela (Grade 8) as she sat as a Rotating Section Leader for violin 1. It is her 3rd year participating in AMIS, and this leadership position qualified her as one of the best violinist participating in the orchestra. 

Congratulations to all the student participants: Angela (violin 1, Rotating Section Leader), Jin (Cello), Chaoming (violin 2), Katherine (Cello), Paulina (Cello), and Guifre (violin 2). Thank you to the chaperones Ms. Barbara Henry and Mr. Guillaume Odendaal.

To watch the full concert, click here: 2026 European Middle School Honor Orchestra