Corak Seni Exchange at ISKL - A Collaborative Approach to Music, Friendship and Creativity
A new annual Middle School arts tradition took shape when The International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) collaborated with two of its sister IASAS schools, Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS) and Singapore American School (SAS), to launch the inaugural Corak Seni Exchange involving band, strings, and choir.
As Paul McTigue, ISKL’s Middle School Activities & Athletics Director and Corak Seni co-organizer, explained: '
What started as an idea to bring students from different schools together through music turned into the very first Corak Seni Music Exchange.
'It was a wonderful experience for our students and teachers, with so many special moments along the way. Most of all, it gave students the chance to come together through music, learn from one another, and share their creativity across schools.
'Providing this opportunity in their Middle School years is a great way of preparing students for the IASAS Cultural Conventions they have to look forward to in High School.'
The name ‘Corak Seni’ translates from Bahasa Melayu as “patterns of art” and was chosen to reflect the creativity, diversity, and artistic expression of the students. It captures the idea that each student contributes a unique artistic voice, coming together to form a unified and meaningful whole.
The rotation of hosts and musical disciplines was the vision and concept behind Corak Seni, and while Band members met at ISKL, simultaneously, ISKL’s Middle School Strings students travelled to Singapore to be hosted by SAS for their exchange. The following week, the Middle School Choir travelled to Jakarta to enjoy their own exchange at JIS.
Each school contributed to the collective experience, and it is incredibly rewarding to know that each year this initiative will offer students the opportunity to explore differing cultural and musical environments.
Head over to www.iskl.edu.my/beyond-the-classroom/arts to discover how ISKL’s Performing Arts programme provides opportunities for students to perform, create, and grow.
April 2026