Nexus Learners Win Bronze at FOBISIA Battle of the Bands 2026

For the second year running, Nexus stepped onto the international stage at the FOBISIA Battle of the Bands, with learner rock band Student Dormitory earning a Bronze Award after being shortlisted from over 100 bands across South East Asia. As the only school from Singapore selected this year, the band represented Nexus with confidence, professionalism, and creativity, delivering a performance that stood out among the region’s best.

Hosted by DBS Denla British School, the competition brought together some of the strongest young musicians in the region, challenging bands to deliver not only musical precision, but a complete and compelling live performance.

This year’s Nexus representatives were Student Dormitory, a learner-led band formed through the Rock Band CCA and made up of musicians from Year 9 to Year 13. That cross-year collaboration became a strength, allowing younger learners to build confidence alongside older musicians, while IBDP learners developed leadership and mentorship through performance.

From Rock Band CCA to an International Stage

Student Dormitory first formed two years ago within the Rock Band CCA at Nexus.

What began as a small group exploring rock repertoire has since evolved into a confident, collaborative band, shaped by a programme that encourages learners to experiment, work together, and take creative ownership of their music from an early stage.

“We take an approach where bands form organically within the school,” Music Teacher Kevin Bennett explains. “The learners lead the process. Our role as teachers is to support them musically, but also help them think about the full performance — stage presence, connection, and storytelling.”

When the band’s original singer left Nexus last year, the group took ownership of the transition. Auditions were shared through the learner bulletin, with the former singer remaining closely involved to ensure the band’s future was in safe hands.

That process led to a significant evolution: the introduction of two vocalists.

“The band sounds much fuller,” explained Leo, who plays bass. “We can do more harmonies and more styles.”

For vocalists Phia and Josephine, the dual-vocal setup allowed the band to stretch creatively.

“We have different ranges and different strengths,” said Sophia. “When one of us is weaker in one area, the other can cover it. We complement each other really well.”

Leo agreed, adding, “Having two vocalists made the band sound much fuller. It pushed all of us to think more carefully about how we played together as a group.”

Preparing for FOBISIA

With a new line-up in place, Student Dormitory spent nearly two months rehearsing for the competition. Early rehearsals focused on learning the song, before shifting attention towards performance and stage presence.

That collaborative dynamic extended into rehearsals. Learning from older musicians helped younger learners gain confidence, while the enthusiasm and creativity of younger members challenged IBDP learners to think differently about how they performed. The result was a band that grew together, both musically and personally, as preparations intensified.

“The hardest part was not the song itself,” said Aldo, the band’s drummer. “It was learning how to perform, not just play.”

Feedback played a key role in shaping the final performance. Alongside Kevin’s guidance, the band actively sought input from other teachers and fellow learners, using that feedback to refine their stage presence and connection with the audience. Through the process, the band realised that technical accuracy alone was not enough. Performance at this level required energy, confidence, and genuine connection with the audience.

Throughout the process, Kevin worked closely with the band, guiding them through the competition criteria and helping them understand what judges look for at an international level.

“They really raised their game,” he said. “They started thinking about the non-musical side of music — how they move on stage, how they interact, how the performance feels as a whole. This was the strongest performance I have seen from them as a band.”

Song Choice, Style, and Identity

The band chose to perform The Pretender by Foo Fighters, a decision made carefully to balance musical intensity with vocal range and instrumental dynamics.

“We wanted something that was a midpoint,” explained Josephine. “Still rock, but with moments where we could really sing and show everyone’s strengths.”

The choice followed thoughtful discussion during rehearsals. The band initially considered Kickstart My Heart by Mötley Crüe, drawn to its energy and classic rock appeal, but ultimately felt it did not allow the vocalists enough space to showcase range and control.

“We realised it was a bit too full-on,” one member shared. “We wanted a song that let us show more sides of the band.”

Visually, the band also made a bold choice, performing in jock and cheerleader outfits.

“Mr Kevin told us we needed something that really signified us as a band,” said Sophia. “Everyone else was in costume, so we thought, let’s really go all out.”

A Tough Crowd and a Bigger Stage

For the members of Student Dormitory, FOBISIA was their most demanding performance yet. Unlike events, the audience was made up largely of other musicians, and the entire performance was live-streamed to an international audience.

“At Nexus, everyone claps,” said Leticia, the band’s keyboardist. “At FOBISIA, the crowd was much tougher as everyone was competing.”

Guitarist Henry agreed, saying, “Playing at FOBISIA felt very different from school performances. Knowing the audience was full of other musicians really raised the bar for us.”

The band also commented on how the professionalism of the event stood out.

“The whole event was very professional. Before we went on stage, they asked us which moments we wanted the cameras to capture,” said Sophia. “That made it feel very real, and we realised we had to think about our interaction with cameras as well as the audience.”

Growth, Reflection, and Looking Ahead

While the band were proud to place Bronze, they were also honest about the experience.

“We thought we might get silver,” Leticia admitted. “But it was still a great learning experience. We know we were up against the best of the best.”

For Josephine, the takeaway went beyond the result. “We were proud to represent Nexus and to be shortlisted at all. It was a tough competition, even within school.”

Kevin shared that mindset is key. “Performing in another country, in front of such a large audience, helps our learners grow as musicians,” he said. “They come back more confident, more reflective, and more aware of what it means to be a performer.”

Congratulations to Student Dormitory on an outstanding achievement and for representing Nexus with such professionalism, resilience, and creativity on an international stage.

Next, you can catch them performing at Nexus Beats and at external venues around Singapore, including The Blackbird and Timbre+, with the band ready to audition for future opportunities as they arise.

Watch Their Performance at FOBISIA BOTB 2026:

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