Among JC1s , most had decided on the wisdom of “ walk up slopes and run down the side slopes ”, which proved to be sound wisdom , for trying not to slip and fall on such slopes was a chore in itself . Another seemingly insurmountable challenge were our soft , weak bodies , unaccustomed to running anything more than a minute in it . It was always going to be an uphill battle , and the end of the run was both a blessing and a curse as we charged up the slope to get to the Finish , panting , and thinking along the lines of Kelly Clarkson ’ s song , “ what doesn ’ t kill you makes you stronger ! “

The event concluded swiftly , with top runners from each level collecting their medals to the applause of the school . They have run the race and kept the pace , and it ’ s only right that their friends offer them a warm congratulations .

Themed “ Breve ” ( which means a break in music terms ), ArtsFest 2015 was presented over eight weeks , with short , intimate and interactive lunchtime performances . The result ? A smorgasbord of amazing performances that coloured our otherwise mundane lunch breaks .

From Chinese opera music to German love songs to acoustic renditions of Justin Bieber ’ s ‘ Baby ’, ArtsFest definitely brought forward an eclectic mix of music and thrilled the audience with its diverse showcase of talent . Duyu ( TG107 ) introduced us to beautiful Chinese opera music , while Deryn Teoh ( TG102 ) serenaded us with a charming German song . These performances highlighted the notion that music truly transcends all borders .

The grand finale of ArtsFest ended with a big bang on 3 September , to coincide with the Teacher ’ s Day Concert . The audiences were completely swooned over by the talents of Frigoris , a trio comprising of Zhu Ziyi ( ML401 ), Aristo Wilbert ( FN402 ), Raymond Victorio Handoko ( FN402 ), who amazed the entire school with their finger-style guitar performance . Consonants , a band made up of Senior School students Kelly Zheng ( TG104 ), Tan Wei Lynn ( TG105 ), Tay Yong Hong ( TG103 ) and Fong Zhi Qin ( TG107 ) gave their debut performance . They performed a breathtaking and beautiful original song composed by Kelly that echoed in our heads after the performance .

The breathtaking performances at ArtsFest 2015 unveiled the artistic talents and passion of many SJI students which would otherwise have gone unnoticed , and encouraged many to step forward beyond their academics and to bask in the glory of the spotlight .

ST JOSEPH ’ S INSTITUTION JOSEPHIAN ANNUAL 2015