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Every year, the music program at Dalian American International School puts on amazing shows for family and friends to enjoy. October, November, and December have been incredibly busy months for music teachers and student performers due to the fall instrumental concert, winter showcases, and the 20th Anniversary Showcase at the Dalian Development Area (DDA) Grand Theater.
Music is a key part of DAIS, and our musical showcases wouldn’t be possible without the help of our amazing performing arts teachers. Ms. Ashley Mims is the teacher for all of the secondary school bands and orchestras. For her, she loves the inclusivity, collaboration, and method of teaching and learning in ensembles. Every year, she organizes new pieces for the students to perform. Ideas for concerts naturally develop from Ms. Mims own interests, with many pieces being ones that she has always wanted to do. In addition, at the end of every school year, students get to submit their own ideas and feedback for future concert themes and pieces.
Ms. Ashley Mims, Head of Performing Arts at DAIS
Many previous concerts were inspired by student submissions. Ms. Terry Saez and Mr. Logan Bryant work alongside Ms. Mims with musical concerts. Ms. Saez works with our Secondary School Choir Ensembles. Each concert combines both classical and popular contemporary pieces that engage students with new and exciting repertoire.
On October 28, the first DAIS instrumental concert of the school year happened. This year’s fall concert was titled “The Cave you Fear,” and it was loved by audience members and performers. Intermediate Band opened with “…At Twilight,” “Dark Ride,” and “Skeleton Crawl,” which were entertaining and suspenseful pieces that perfectly reflected the scary yet excitement of the Halloween season. Intermediate Orchestra continued with entertaining and immersive pieces, such as “Attack of the Walking Basses,” “Mythos,” and “Spartacus.”
Advanced Full Orchestra ended the show with powerful and intense pieces such as “The Cave You Fear,” “Selections from Wicked,” and “Alpha and Omega.” By the end of the night, audience members were in awe, and the student performers had a great time performing their first show of the 2025-2026 school year.
On December 2, the DAIS Secondary Choral Ensembles truly lit up the season at the Winter Choral Concert: “Golden Voices Rising.” The evening began with a performance of “Joy to the World,” setting the festive tone and inviting the audience into the holiday season. A shift in mood came with a gentler song, “Shalom Chaverim,” reminding everyone of the concert’s message of peace and togetherness. Beyond the holiday classics, students also explored contemporary and emotional pieces that highlighted diversity.
Musical Theater students also energised the stage with “Man of La Mancha.” Performances of songs like Memories and Sweet Child, drawing the audience into more reflective moments. These pieces showed the choir’s ability to connect with each other and with the listeners. The concert concluded on a high note with the uplifting and energetic “Golden,” performed by every Secondary Choral Ensemble, which left the audience cheering.
The 2025 winter instrumental concert, titled “Polar Vortex,” combined festive and immersive to create an exciting program. The Beginning Orchestra opened with “Entry of the Tumblers” and “Zenith,” and Beginning Band performed “Gentle Winds” and “Blizzard’s Fury.” The Intermediate Band increased the intensity with “In the Bleak Midwinter,” and “Santa the Barbarian: Snowpocalypse,” while the Intermediate Orchestra brought back the cold winter with “Blue Rhythmico.” Advanced Orchestra joined the Intermediate Orchestra for “Polar Vortex,” a powerful piece that symbolised harsh winters.
Alongside the Intermediate Orchestra, Advanced Full Orchestra performed “The Firebird: Berceuse and Finale,” and the Advanced Full Orchestra ended the night with “Sleight Ride,” a winter staple, and “Concert Suite from “The Polar Express,” which left the audience amazed.
On December 5, Advanced Full Orchestra, Advanced Choir, and our Grade 5 DAIS students embarked on a journey alongside their teachers to the DDA Grand Theater in Kaifaqu to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of DAIS and the 15th Anniversary of DHS. Advanced Full Orchestra opened the showcase with “Sleigh Ride” and was followed by DAIS Grade 5 students with “What a Wonderful World,” with was performed in sign language, “Sol Fallera,” and “Mbira Jam,” a high energy piece inspired by marimba music of Zimbabwe.
The Advanced Choir continued with “Modimo,” a heartfelt expression of reverence and gratitude sung in Sesotho and isiZulu, Southern African languages, and “Lovely Day.” The Advanced Full Orchestra performed “Concert Suite from The Polar Express” and after a short intermission, concluded the evening with “Golden Embers,” a beautiful piece by deaf and neurodivergent composer Tyler Mazone, “Origins,” “Nostalgia,” and finally “My Neighbor Totoro,” a piece that embodies our DAIS and DHS community.
Each piece performed at the DAIS 20 Years and DHS 15 Years Anniversary shows the story of our school. The Advanced Full Orchestra performed pieces that represents the dream of founding our school and the support, the beginnings of our schools, and the reflecting and gratitude of those who have contributed to our community over the years. The Grade 5 and Advanced Choir’s pieces represent the diversity and beauty of our school, highlighting optimism and warmth.
On December 9, elementary students from unternational and bilingual division brought warmth and light to the season with their Winter Concert, “December Nights, December Lights,” held in the South Gym. The program celebrated global traditions and winter festivities through music, featuring pieces such as “December Nights, December Lights,” “Hanukkah, Hanukkah,” “Light the Kinara,” and “La Fiesta de la Posada.” Students performed classics like “O Christmas Tree,” “Deck the Halls,” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” alongside cultural selections such as “Mbira Jam” and “African Noel.” The concert highlighted diversity and unity, creating a joyful atmosphere that reflected the spirit of the holidays and the DAIS community’s commitment to inclusivity.
All these concerts and showcases demonstrate how music at DAIS and DHS can tell a story, immerse the audience in a new world, and help students develop their own talents.
We cannot wait to see what the Performing Arts teams has prepared for spring, and we are looking forward to seeing the DAIS community there to support our talented staff and students!
Written By Tanya Jiajia Li
DAIS Grade 11
