Taejon Christian International School is part of Asia Pacific Activities Conference (APAC), which only two international schools in Korea participate in. APAC events come with two branches: sports and performing arts. Many of us know how APAC sports works: a tournament is held and schools compete against each other. But have you ever wondered what people do in Performing arts APAC?
The TCIS Band flew to Guangzhou for an Asia Pacific Activities Conference Band trip during March 3rd to March 8th, 2026. Hosted by American International School of Guangzhou (AISG), six schools AISG, Canadian Academy, Concordia International School Shanghai, Shanghai American School – Puxi, TCIS, and Western Academy of Beijing attended the event.
Guest conductor
The event itself lasted from March 5 to 7, and two additional days were spent on transit before and after the event. A guest conductor was invited to conduct the big band made up of the six international schools. The guest conductor was Dr. Peter Morris, a professor of conducting and Head of Ensembles at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.
He focused on the theme of APAC being an international activities conference, weaving in his experience of immigrating from America to Australia in the repertoire and the stylistic part of the performance that was aimed to be put together in the 3 days of the event.
What did we do during the event?
In the event, we were required to practice and rehearse for the performance on the very last day. Repertoire was composed of 7 pieces:
- “Last Flight Out” by Catherine Likhuta
- “Guillin’s Majesty” by Benjamin Lau
- “Lincolnshire Posy” by Percy Grainger
- “Letter from Sado” by Jody Blackshaw
- “Best Things” by Catherine Likhuta
- “Dragon Boat Dances” by Ray Lin
- “Legend of the Drop Bear” by Brian Bamages
Each piece told a different story about a different culture. For example, “Dragon Boat Dances”, written by Ray Lin, a student of Dr. Morris, is a piece written using the composer’s cultural background as a Chinese-Australian, and Best Things by Catherine Likhuta is a piece about her celebrating the best things in our lives even after going through a rough experience coming from Ukraine and immigrating to Australia.
The cultural experience didn’t stop at the music of the trip. We had some fun experiences outside of playing the music.
On the third day of the trip they took the whole APAC team to a cruise trip on the Pearl river of Guangzhou. Since the cruise was to ourselves, it was a great opportunity to immerse with others from different international backgrounds and to get closer to our team. The landscape of Guangzhou that we could see from the cruise was also very beautiful and it was a great chance to look at China in a way we have never seen before.
On the last day of the event, AISG opened a banquet for the performers and the directors within the school. Without having to stress out anymore about performing, people got to know each other more personally provided with food, karaoke, and bonfire. When people started singing karaoke, we sang different songs in different languages, but people enjoyed every song even if we did not understand it. It was interesting to watch how people could have a fun time and enjoy although we come from different backgrounds and cultures.
Overall, the APAC band trip to Guangzhou was a great experience to experience a different culture in a different part of the world. APAC has this unique characteristic that allows people to do so. It is such a wonderful opportunity to be able to attend this kind of event as a school. It brings people together and immerses us in other cultures in just a few days. If you ever get the chance to go, take it.