St. Joseph’s Private School Kuching recently hosted their latest installment of Rhythm & Colours 2025: WONDER, and it was “mind-blowing.”
During the packed three-hour concert, award-winning performers from the primary school, as well as more mature teens from the private secondary and international schools, wowed the crowd with performances that were not only entertaining but also impactful.
The “on the dot opening” by the award-winning Chinese Music Club, with no speeches, was a breath of fresh air for someone like me who is accustomed to so much protocol at such events.
Each and every performance that followed was nothing short of mesmerizing and of “world standards,” making it hard to believe that the whole production was by students, with teachers acting only as mentors and trainers.
Students Take Charge
It was especially interesting that the school allowed students to run most of the show.
This was evident from promotional videos and news updates shared on the school’s official Facebook page.
On the day of the event, students handled traffic flow, checked tickets, greeted and ushered concert attendees to their seats.
Behind the scenes, students also managed stage and venue logistics, technical aspects, publicity, visual and video backdrops, photography, security, program booklets, first aid, traffic, merchandise, makeup, and front-of-house. The list of working crew can be seen below.
The teachers watched their students take charge, occasionally offering guidance and advice.
Smiles were abundant as everyone found their seats without much fuss.
When showtime arrived, the student emcees guided the crowd through the exhilarating performances with the full house remained glued to their seats, fascinated with each act on stage.
The first night ended at 11 PM with a beautiful finale that was as grand as the Rainforest World Music Festival finale.
The Second Night
The second night featured the same performances, but those who missed it truly missed what St. Joseph’s Private Schools is all about.
While the first concert was good, it wasn’t perfect and had some “hiccups.” This is expected, as students, not professionals, were managing a production of this scale.
With less than 16 hours to improve, and considering the students needed to rest, not much improvement was expected for the second show.
However, the second show was a completely polished version of the first. The already impressive performers did a brilliant job on stage.
The musical groups—including the Chinese Music Club, Primary School Children Choir, SJPS Chamber Choir, Violin Duet, Concert Band, String Ensemble, and the OG Wonder Boys—did a brilliant job of harmonizing and enchanting the audience. Likewise, the dancers—including Cristal Chung, the SJPSS Cultural Dancers, the SJPSS Dance, the Primary School Dance, SJPSS Lion Dance, and the SJPSS Contemporary Dance—entertained and evoked emotions with their well-choreographed moves.
At that point, it was clear why these teens and kids were “award-winning” in numerous competitions. They were just that good.
The polished performances were not limited to the stage. Changes were made to make the entire event even smoother and more natural in terms of flow and timing compared to the previous day.
These students improved what was already good and made it great overnight. It’s unclear what the teachers or students did during the 16-hour break, but the outcome was no longer “just a school production”; the standards were, without a doubt, international.
The finale was simply fitting. The performers formed a circle around the audience and sang and played their rendition of Kimi No Na Wa (Sparkle).
This was followed by a fitting mention and recognition to all the working crew groups, which was met with full applause and spirited cheers from the crew members who were still busy at their respective stations.
The stage crew cheer drew the most laughs as they cheered loud and clear from the back of the stage, unseen, but heard!
Personally, this cements how education at St Joseph’s wasn’t limited to the walls of the school, but beyond that. The fact teachers could give so much trust to the students, allowing them room to put together such a spectical speaks volumes that education at St Joseph’s Private Schools wasn’t ordinary, it was beyond that.
Conclusion
In summary, Rhythm & Colours 2025: WONDER was a spectacular student-led event that demonstrated the incredible talent and dedication of St. Joseph’s Private School Kuching’s students and staff.
Their ability to organize, perform, and refine a production of this scale created a world-class show and highlighted the immense potential these young individuals have with proper guidance, trust, and ample opportunity.
Rhythm & Colours 2025: WONDER was not just another concert; it was a great example of education beyond the ordinary.
To learn more about Rhythm & Colours, visit the official website.
p/s: Pardon the lack of photos. Photography and videography of the performances was restricted during the show. Some photos here was taken from Dr Sim KH’s Facebook page.