The Stage Is Set. Who Will Take the Title?
The second Beijing International School Battle of the Bands is happening Jan 31-Feb 1 at Culturopolis!
This year's competition brings together an incredible roster of young musicians from 12 of Beijing's international schools, including the French International School, Dulwich College, ISB, Daystar Academy, Tsinghua International School Daoxiang Lake, Beijing International Bilingual Academy (BIBA), HD Beijing School, and more.
Every band that takes the stage will walk away with goodie bags featuring dining vouchers, Beijinger merch, and other awesome swag.
Top prizes last year for the winning performers included RMB 1,000+ restaurant vouchers, professional studio time, songwriting courses, and celebration parties, just to name a few.
This year's bands will be netting prizes from Susu Vietnamese Restaurant, burger barons Side Street, Dastaan Indian Restaurant, plus more Beijinger favorite restaurants yet to be announced!
More importantly, think of the accolades: bands will be competing not only for the Best Band award, but other group and individual recognition such as Best Vocalist, Best Guitarist, Best Bassist, Best Drummer, Best Keyboard, Best Stage Presence, and more.
Think of how THAT will look on that college application!
BTW, we are still looking for expert judges, sponsors and volunteers for the event: contact eloisewester@yahoo.com or WeChat ID: TBJButler for more information.
Now let's meet the full lineup of performers:
The Cyclops
From The French International School of Beijing
The Cyclops is a Grade 11 student band from the French International School of Beijing, and a veteran of the last Battle: They won second place at the 2024 Beijing International High School Battle of the Bands, with bassist Andreas winning the award for Best Bassist. Rounding out the lineup are Leila on vocals, Tate on drums, Eric on guitar, and Chloe on keyboard.
Carterfly
From International School of Beijing
Carterfly is a rock band from the International School of Beijing, named by their Grade 8 humanities teacher, Mr. Carter. After multiple and consistent attempts to become a metal band, they have accepted defeat and decided to focus on pop instead. They are also, somehow, now finally a full girl band.
Just the Six of Us!
From Beijing International Bilingual Academy (BIBA)
"Just the Six of Us" is a six-member band formed by a shared passion for music and collaboration. Their name originates from the first song they ever performed together, “Just the Two of Us,” symbolizing their growth from a simple beginning into a cohesive ensemble. The group is led by bassist and captain Nicole Zhang and features vocalists Chloe Dugal and Serafina Zhang, pianist Edward Tang, guitarist Seongmin, and drummer Hamm He. Their sound blends emotive harmonies with dynamic instrumentation, aiming to connect with audiences through authentic performance. They are grateful for the opportunity to compete and excited to finally share the music they have been crafting together.
The Wednesday Underground
From Tsinghua International School Daoxiang Lake (THISDL)
Brought together by vibrancy, passion, and a hint of rebellious underground spirit, The Wednesday Underground are a group of talented, imaginative young musicians playing music together, from pop to rock, breaking boundaries and amplifying their own voices. Through the dynamic collaboration of co-vocalists Jonie Liu and Catherine Li, keyboardists Mia Wang and Vera Jiang, guitarist Paola Piao, bassist Yolanda Han, and drummer Freddy Peng, they aim to share their distinct energy.
Cyber Pirate
From HD Beijing School
Cyber Pirate, a student band from HD Beijing School, has been building its sound for over three years. They have become a familiar act at charity performances and international school events, delivering rock covers ranging from Paramore's “Misery Business” to Led Zeppelin's “Stairway to Heaven.” The band sees music as a universal language of emotion and aims to use their performances to support meaningful causes. Looking ahead, their shared goal is to channel their experience into creating original music. The lineup features Kazy Chen on vocals, Andy Ye on drums, Tiger Li and Max Zhu on guitars, Tom Chen on keyboards, and Jacob Guo on bass.
Pretty Ugly
From Dulwich College Beijing
Pretty Ugly is a six-piece rock and pop band from Dulwich College Beijing. Formed three years ago, they are veterans of the 2024 Battle of the Bands, where they walked away with the Audience Favorite award. The group features shared vocal duties by Evie and Kezia, with Ethan on bass, Noah and Grace on guitars, and Johnson on drums. Seeing the audience smile and vibe with their music is what drives them to keep improving.Follow them on Instagram @pretty_ugly_beijing.
Broken Heaven
From YCIS
Broken Heaven is an energetic, loud, and spunky band from YCIS composed of Year 12s and one Year 10 student. They gravitate towards emo and rock music with occasional pop influences. Their typical setlist includes Paramore and My Chemical Romance, sprinkled with a couple of original songs. The lineup features Sasha on guitar, Alex on drums, Cissy on vocals, Dylan on backup guitar, and Tony on bass, bringing something unique to every stage.
Just a Band
From Beijing International Bilingual Academy (BIBA)
Just a Band is a two-year-old rock group that focuses on creating music that brings them together and connects with listeners. The band's lineup includes William on vocals, Nico on guitar, Rick on bass, Lydia on keyboard, and Owen on drums. Their journey has seen member changes and challenges like lacking a dedicated rehearsal space, but through mutual support, they have built the cohesive group seen today.
The Bright Side of the Moon
From Moonshot Academy
The Bright Side of the Moon formed in 2023 with a mission to have fun and share the joy of music. Their lineup has shifted with graduations, and the current active members are Amber Ma, Banker Qian, Dami Guan, Emma Wang, Jackson Shi, Rilin Zhang, and William Wang. Their name is inspired by Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon, and they explore a wide range of covers with pop and rock at their core, alongside R&B, country, and blues influences.
Studio 55
From Beanstalk International Bilingual School Haidian Academy (BIBS HDA)
Studio 55 is a high-energy, student-led ensemble from multiple grade levels, guided by mentor Dean (Mr. M) Mongerio. Featuring vocals, guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, percussion, and electronic wind instruments, the band creates a dynamic sound built on groove and strong stage presence. Their setlist, including crowd-favorites like “Time Zone” and “Uptown Funk,” highlights tight coordination and expressive energy. Through collaboration and rehearsal, their goal is to deliver polished, engaging performances that connect with every audience.
Galaxy Band
From Daystar Academy
Galaxy Band from Daystar Academy was founded in October 2023. The band consists of three brothers—Billy, Alex, and Sam—on bass, guitar, and drums, and three girls—Teresa, Sophia, and Ella—on double keyboards and vocals. They primarily perform English pop rock songs and are delighted to participate in the competition.
J²TAY
From The British School of Beijing, Shunyi
J²TAY is a high-energy band of IGCSE Music pupils from The British School of Beijing, brought together by their shared love of music and founded by siblings. The group thrives on collaboration and the buzz of performing live. The lineup features Jai and Tam on guitar, Jeremy on lead vocals, Yasmin on vocals and guitar, and Alistar on drums. With driving rhythms and layered guitars, they bring a fresh, fun sound to the stage.
Culturopolis: The International Lifestyle Expo will be taking place at Langyuan Station's Central Station from Jan 31 to Feb 1. Entry to Culturopolis is free with advanced registration. You can sign up now by scanning the QR code in the poster above.
Langyuan Station Central Station 郎园Station 中央车站
53 Banjieta Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区半截塔路53号
READ: Who's Who (So Far) at Culturopolis
Images: courtesy of the bands, the Beijingers
