When I visited the Open House in 2018, I was attracted by the variety of programmes offered at SOTA, including its extensive Music curriculum. I was also captivated by the prospect of immersing myself in music and interacting with others who shared the same passion... My advice for students considering SOTA is to have fun! Many people think of SOTA as very stressful and taxing. While that may be true sometimes, it is important to take a step back and enjoy the process as you embark on this artistic journey.

Shadrach Johanan Yankaya
(Year 5, Music)

My parents heard about SOTA when I was just three to five years old, and I recall going to quite a few open houses with them and thinking to myself, “Wow! This is an amazing school. I want to come here!” As I grew older, I started to understand how the school helps to support students in their learning, in terms of both academics and the arts... The school embodies a uniqueness that helps realise a student's creative potential, and it helps us learn to better love and appreciate the arts too!

Jyotsnaa Jayashanker
(Year 4, Theatre)

One of the extremely striking things about this school is the diversity of people. People from all across the spectrum, from different schools, different cultures, and different backgrounds. The one thing that brought us all here together was our love for the arts. It is one thing all of us have in common at school. I hear a lot of my friends tell me that they've found people they can relate to so much as artists, and I wholeheartedly agree. There are people who seem completely different in every aspect possible, and yet there's so much I've learned from them.

Tan Ee Ning Maegan
(Year 6, Literary Arts)

Visual Arts lessons are interactive and fun! There are many different classes such as Drawing and Painting, Theory and History of Art, Visual Journaling, and Sculpture/Ceramics. Being exposed to such a wide variety of artmaking techniques has allowed me to explore and experiment with new mediums, and gave me the opportunity to push my boundaries as an artist. Over the years, I've also met and made new friends who share the same passion for Visual Arts. Overall, it's been a really fun and enriching experience.”

Leung Ler Tong
(Year 4, Visual Arts)

I am so grateful for the opportunities of growth SOTA has provided me with. Despite my Year 1 dance journey being filled with long hours and the tiring physical (and mental!) workload, I have grown to become a more self-reflective learner, not just in dance but in other areas as well. The supportive community of fellow dancers whom I have bonded with over the year made the tough times so much more fun and bearable. It was also very assuring that my dance mentors were always there to guide and support us whenever we had doubts.

Cai Ruyin Hannah
(Year 2, Dance)

I can see that my daughter, Krishaa has improved as a musician after coming to SOTA. She loves her chamber music sessions as it allows her to jam with her favourite songs with students who play different instruments. She has always been looking forward to her music showcases as she finds them really fun and also a way to display her talent, representing SOTA. Thank you to SOTA for giving her performance opportunities.

Jayarajan Suganthi
Parent of Raveendran Krishaa, Year 4 Music student

The learning curve in SOTA can be steeped and they have learned to be independent in their learning and managing their priorities. However, the music programme exposed them to topics that are seldom taught in mainstream education or with a private tutor. To parents considering SOTA, take the leap of faith and support your child's choice, but be ready to plough and invest time and effort. It is a very rigorous programme which requires diligence and resilience.

Carolynne Ng
Parent of Joshua and Tobias Tan, Year 5 and 6 Music students

All the wonderful pieces In the candy store! Free to try, discover new flavours, have fun doing it. This is SOTA, a journey my daughter decided to take back in P6 — since then she has matured, learned independence, and in Daddy’s eye, a fine young lady now.

Isaac Chow
Parent of Kaira Chow, Year 5 Theatre student

We have two children in SOTA studying Theatre and Literary Arts. We knew that allowing them to embark on a SOTA education was taking a road less travelled.

However, we decided early on to support their strengths, passion, and inclinations. And we are of the opinion that giving emphasis to artistic and creative pursuits complements the study of the sciences and provides the rounded education so needed for the future.

We found that the SOTA and IB philosophy resonated with our convictions of giving our children a wide exposure, encouraging creativity, and emphasising independence in learning.

It is a pleasure seeing them enjoy their pursuits and thriving in a wide range of activities.

Dr Adrian Tan
Parent of Elijah Tan (Year 4 Theatre student) & Emma Tan (Year 2 Literary Arts student)

We believe that IB curriculum offers our children a more holistic education than traditional GCE ‘O’ & ‘A’ levels.

In 2016, when my daughter was in Primary 6, we realised that SOTA was one of the few school in Singapore that allow my daughter an access to an IB curriculum. Coupled with the fact that the acceptance is DSA and for arts-inclined children. We thought that DSA will take away the stress of PSLE. It’s a 6 year program which means they do not need to sit for O levels exams in secondary 4.

The school encourages diversity which we believe opens their minds to become global citizen and they learn to be more tolerant and understanding towards their friends from different background and culture.

Many of the misconception that SOTA students can only pursue art-form related career, which certainly isn’t true. Somehow, after the 6 years training alongside the art form teaches them to solve problem creatively.

Rachel
Parent of Valerie Tan (Year 4 Literary Arts student) & Natalie Tan (Class of 2022, Visual Arts student)

The SOTA programme has certainly given Dharshan a more holistic appreciation of theatre as an expression of art, and also developed his own capabilities as an actor. He has developed a keener curiosity beyond educational content and raised his awareness about humanitarian and societal issues. SOTA's project-based approach has also built his abilities in co-creative leadership, collaboration and influencing.

Sureish Nathan
Parent of Dharshan Nathan, Year 6 Theatre student