Cultivating creativity, learning, and collaboration through the Performing Arts
Music
Music is a highly valued program at KAS that begins in elementary school. Our music curriculum is aligned vertically and prepares students with the foundation to further develop their skills and knowledge at each grade level. Our lower elementary students dance, sing, and find joy in songs while learning the fundamentals of music. Beginning in grade 3, students have a different instrument focus in each grade to continue developing their music reading skills and ensemble skills. Third-grade plays strings, fourth-grade recorders, and fifth-grade xylophones in parts.
Our middle and high school students continue building upon knowledge and skills by exploring the forms, styles, and functions of music from a wide range of historical and socio-cultural contexts. Students create, participate in, and reflect upon music from their own backgrounds and those of others. They develop the skills and knowledge they need to pursue music for further study, as well as for personal enjoyment throughout their lives.
Students may opt to further pursue their musical passions and hone their skills through after-school electives like choir and orchestra. KAS musicians at all grade levels take the stage throughout the school year to showcase their talent in front of their peers, families, and the broader KAS community.
KAS has a rich tradition of hosting and participating in performing arts exchange activities with artists from around the world. These unique opportunities provide students with the chance to collaborate with others, learn new techniques and approaches, and gain a deeper understanding of the role of music in different cultures.
MYP Theatre
Step into the captivating world of our MYP Theatre program, where students in grades 6 to 8 embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and artistic expression. Through engaging activities like improvisation, character exploration, and ensemble work, students learn the fundamentals of theatrical storytelling while honing their performance skills. Theatre serves as a conduit for acquiring and comprehending language, fostering communication, empathy, dedication, and hard work.
As we expand our program, students have a unique opportunity to shape and build the future of theatre at our school. This collaborative effort fosters a dynamic and inclusive community where creativity thrives, and students develop transferable skills such as collaboration, social connection, managing priorities, cultural awareness, and community engagement. Theatre also cultivates flexibility, concentration, and focus, leading to increased academic performance, creativity, stamina, and resilience.
Join us on this exhilarating journey, where every performance is a chance to shine and imagination knows no bounds. Whether you dream of taking center stage or working behind the scenes, the MYP Theatre program invites you to unlock a world of inspiration, creativity, and endless possibilities.
Meet our Performing Arts Faculty
Cheng-Wei Hsieh MYP Music
Cheng-Wei Hsieh MYP Music
Born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, the versatile musician Cheng-Wei Hsieh is passionate about teaching and coaching chamber music having previously served as a Teacher Assistant for the string area at the University of Houston Moores School of Music from 2016-19. During the assistantship, he taught violin private lessons, group technique class, and chamber music at undergraduate level. From 2021, Hsieh taught as a string instructor at the Bob Hope School and Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan Middle School. He was in charge of group violin lessons, music theory classes, and music appreciation classes. Besides school teaching, Hsieh maintained a private studio in the Houston metropolitan area, working with students of all ages and levels. Since 2017, Hsieh has been invited to teach and perform as a violin faculty in the Encuentro Anual de Cuerdas, a pedagogical outreach program based in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Hsieh holds his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Houston Moores School of Music, Master of Music degree from the University of North Texas, and Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from Tunghai University in Taichung, Taiwan.
Zahra Khalifeh MYP/DP Music
