A select group of Seisen high school students embarked on an unforgettable journey to Hong Kong to participate in the prestigious 2025 AMIS Honor Jazz Festival & Jazz Skills Workshop. Over five action-packed days, our students demonstrated their talent, embraced new friendships, and achieved remarkable growth, culminating in several show-stopping performances.

The adventure began the moment the team arrived. The excitement of the festival was matched by the thrill of the host city. After arriving safely, the group enjoyed a wonderful Cantonese dinner at Prince Restaurant in Harbour City before witnessing the spectacular National Day Fireworks over Victoria Harbour. It was a magical welcome and the perfect prelude to a week of brilliant performances.

In the Instrumental Jazz Skills Workshops, Grade 9 students Kokoro Shikanai, Lynn Fukunaga, Mima Ubukata, and Makoto Yoshida were challenged to step outside of their comfort zones, embracing the spirit of jazz by taking creative risks on their improvisations on “St.Thomas”, “Things Ain’t”, “Road Song”, and “Yardbird Suite”. Incredible personal growth was evident, as many brought their lively playfulness in their solos at their culminating performances. 

11 vocalists Yura Imai, Sae Obi, and Rina Ogawa immersed themselves in the Vocal Jazz Workshop. Rina earned a highly coveted scat solo in 'Dancing in the Dark,' executing a performance that was brilliant and electrifying. Their commitment and hard work paid off in the culminating performance, showcasing the collective strength and individual artistry.

Two of our students, Mei Yamada and Sora Ihara, earned the high honor of performing as part of the 2025 AMIS Honor Big Band. The Honor Big Band was led by Ayn Inserto, who is a professor from Berklee College of Music. Mei and Sora had an amazing experience, acknowledging that while the challenging repertoire presented obstacles, the band resolved them through joint effort, underscoring the power of teamwork. The Honor Big Band’s culminating performance was a resounding triumph. Mei also took part in the Combo Night concert as the drummer for Combo 1, consisting of rhythm section members who scored the highest in their auditions.

Sora and Mei both formed strong bonds with their fellow musicians, and they both expressed deep gratitude for the memorable experience.

The students added two more cultural stops before heading home. The group visited the famous Che Kung Temple to spin the fan-bladed wheel of fortune, a custom believed to bring luck to worshippers. 

The group also visited the M+ Art Museum in the Kowloon area, where the 'Environments by Women Artists' exhibition offered a powerful source of inspiration.