“When was the last time you felt the urge to play and let your mind run free?”
It’s the question at the heart of the innovative Pilco Studio (for “Play, Inspire, Learn”), founded by Angela LAU’05 in 2019. The children’s creativity incubator is located on South Korea’s volcanic island of Jeju, which boasts walking trails, lush forests and spectacular mountains—not to mention Branksome Hall Asia.
Angela’s immersive learning oasis is all about stimulating children’s creative juices. Steering clear of textbooks and formal lesson plans, Pilco’s inventive workshops are designed to free the imagination. Outdoor activities might include forest photography or ocean ecology, while indoor projects explore areas like podcast-making or galot, a traditional Korean dyeing technique.
“Children discover their own relationships with nature, which is the starting point for our creative projects,” she says. “For example, kids who are fascinated by insects might write whimsical stories on how bees dream.”
Born in Hong Kong, Angela began studying piano at age seven. A visit to Toronto in 2001 led to an admissions interview and acceptance at Branksome Hall, a place she remembers for the “warmth and friendliness of the atmosphere”—a far cry from the strict formality of her British-style boarding school back home.
Branksome’s supportive Boarding environment was key to nurturing a sense of independence in the teenage newcomer. “You become very close to the teachers and Boarding supervisors and learn to invest in those relationships because there’s no family present. It’s a great environment for growing and learning. Branksome helped me develop confidence during those pivotal adolescent years.”
Equally important was the mentorship of Principal Karen Jurjevich, who led weekly check-ins with students—cozy group sessions focused on building a sense of community, especially among those who were far from home.
It’s no surprise to hear that Angela’s friendship with her former principal is one that she cherishes to this day. “Karen has such a special place in my heart as a mentor. She has this amazing ability to make someone feel seen and heard and understood. She is an extraordinary, inspiring human being.”
Following high school, Angela continued her music studies at the University of Toronto and later at New York University, where her master’s degree focused on the intersection of music, learning and technology.
A chance encounter at a Branksome alum reunion in Hong Kong eventually led Angela to a job in 2012 as music specialist at Branksome Hall Asia, the new sister school launched that year on Jeju Island. “It was one of the best learning experiences of my career because I was part of the foundational faculty, and everyone quickly pulled together to problem-solve,” she says. Borrowing from beloved Branksome Hall Canada traditions, such as Plaid Tidings, helped kindle a sense of community at the newly minted school.
The biggest difference between the two schools? “Branksome Hall Canada, with its century-plus history, gave me a sense of belonging and a deep connection to its enduring traditions. I fondly remember the sound of bagpipes playing at graduation and other important ceremonies,” she says. “On the other hand, Branksome Hall Asia is the convergence of many cultures, from its international faculty to its student body in the setting of Jeju Island, with its unique history and localities.”
Cue the summer of 2017, which paved the way for a major personal turning point. Angela found herself volunteering at a refugee camp in Serres, Greece, where she ran music workshops for displaced Yazidis from northern Iraq. But her formal training felt irrelevant against the backdrop of the unfolding humanitarian crisis.
In fact, it was the raw emotional power of music that swept over Angela when a group of refugees sat in a circle and began singing beloved songs from their faraway home. “The Yazidis were singing in Arabic and Kurdish, and though I didn’t understand the words, I was moved to tears—they sang directly from the heart. That experience really opened my eyes to the fact that music is participatory; it doesn’t always have to be high art. Music is such a simple human interaction—it’s part of our stories and memories.”
Invigorated by her epiphany, Angela taught at Branksome Hall Asia for one more year before deciding that it was time to focus on her own version of nurturing children’s creativity. “I asked myself, what does creative learning look like? Does it need to happen in a traditional classroom setting? And what is the role of nature in learning? That was the very beginning of Pilco.”
Today, Pilco is thriving. More than 200 children from Jeju, mainland South Korea, New York and Singapore enrolled last year in seasonal workshops, and there are plans to expand Pilco’s network of partners in other countries, including Japan.
“Our goal is to connect with creative educators and build partnerships around Asia in order to bring unique learning experiences to children and families,” says Angela. “This journey has taught me to trust my internal compass to help me find my path. It’s the experience of being curious, asking questions, being observant. It’s the process of making something.”
