By Mireille Yael Tanzil, Secondary 3 Courage
Odyssey. A word that means a long and eventful or adventurous journey or experience. In Greek mythology, “The Odyssey” by Homer is an Epic poem about a decade-long journey that began with 600 men, but ended with one hero triumphing alone.
The BBS Ensemble Orchestra team presented the Odyssey concert on Saturday, 22nd February 2025 from 1.30 – 3.00 p.m. The venue was at the BBS Bandung Sports Hall.
The BBS Orchestra performed moving songs that incorporated elements of adventure. These heroic hymns featured original soundtracks from famous films such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Avengers, Married Life from Up, Interstellar and How to Train Your Dragon.
According to Mr Agung, the head of the orchestra team, the goal of BBS’ music program is not necessarily to create professional musicians but rather to instill values such as discipline and hard work. Students practice not only the music but also punctuality, and constantly practice to develop the members’ skills in harmony. Through music, students are trained to be disciplined and to develop their focus, which will have a positive impact on their academic performance and habits throughout their lives. Learning music also teaches students to respect and listen to others, which are valuable life skills that will help them become individuals who appreciate teamwork and cooperation in the future.
Mr Agung has chosen the team to be ‘odyssey’ for the concert this academic year as it symbolises the journey of every orchestra member—from the moment they start rehearsing the first piece until the last moment, having successfully mastered each and every single song. It has been a musical adventure for them, filled with passion and dedication leading up to the concert’s commence.
All these songs set off an adventurous mood. But the question was posed during the presentation promoting the Odyssey concert, “Why must we listen to these types of music? How could it benefit us?”
The concert served as an opportunity to learn how to appreciate music. It also taught students the importance of valuing the hard work of the ones behind the melody — their classmates who have prepared for months to master each piece. This experience helps students understand the importance of supporting one another. Moreover, watching a concert can be a great way to relax and relieve stress. With all the school assignments and homework, listening to beautiful music helps students to refresh their mind.
Is it going to be like any ordinary concert ?
Similar to any ordinary concert, the audience felt the atmosphere of a typical orchestra concert. However, unlike traditional concerts that usually played classical works, our school orchestra performed popular movie soundtracks for the audience — students, teachers and parents — to enjoy. These pieces have been rearranged to suit different concert formats such as orchestra, solo, duet, and wind ensemble performances.
Where has our journey taken us?
The head of the orchestra team, Mr Agung, said that the BBS Bandung Orchestra was formed in 2012 with a small team of 15 members. In the upcoming years, more students gradually became interested in joining, and the orchestra eventually expanded to become one of the most known CCAs in the school. Initially, the team started with only string instruments, but over time, wind instruments such as the flute and clarinet were also introduced. This year, they even had students playing the saxophone, adding more variety to the ensemble.
Hopefully in the years onward, more musical instruments will be added such as the trumpet or trombone to attract more students into joining the BBS Orchestra.
Odyssey Concert: BBS Bandung Sports’ Hall