<<[J-Chan]>>

.:Sunday, June 04, 2006:.

just came back from suntec... bought some stuff for my upcoming holiday in Australia.. got a 2GB SD card at quite a steal at the PC show.. then got a spare battery and thePOD.. wish I had that yesterday for some of the night shots we took.. basically its just a beanbag thing with the screw on top to attach to the camera..
back to the previous 2 days..

Friday
our concert day.. got to school at about 11.15.. joined them in some last min polishing to make our instruments look nice before having a short break for those who haven't ate yet.. quickly gobbled up my lo mai kai and helped to move the percussion instruments..

quickly snapped this pic on my way back to get more stuff.. turned out having some unintentional panning in it.. hahaa.. adds to the effect I guess..
boarded the buses and headed out for VCH.. the usual hustle and bustle of logistics again when we arrived.. had our final rehearsal in the hall not soon after.. not too bad..

Wei Jie doing some sound checks for his solo..
changed and had our dinner... dunno why, but it seems like the same thing I ate as the last time I performed at VCH.. or issit deja vu?

C for Clarinets..
and before you know it.. its already almost 7.. the whole band was sitting there watching the people stream in.. think it would be a better idea to wait backstage first or something.. at least we had some time to spot our friends.. only could spot my juniors in the first few rows..
Rachel and Eng Seng did a small skit to remind the audience to switch off their handphones.. Rachel did a flutter-tongue on her flute, which sounds awfully like a telephone ringing, then Eng Seng on the other end shouted something like "Oi! Who's phone is that!" hahaa..
the concert started off with our most exciting piece, Danse Diabolique.. my heart was like racing during the piece.. except for the part which Mr Brando Tan cued wrongly for the ending, but we still played correctly.. it was quite good.. had to calm myself down for the next piece, An American Elegy.. the first 2 pieces like complete opposites of each other, one a devilish dance and the other portraying saddness and hope.. 3rd piece, National Emblem was quite ok..
then the hiccups came.. the MCs introduced the wrong piece and Mr Brando Tan had to correct them.. we were playing Jupiter Hymn first then 1st Suite in Eb.. Jupiter Hymn went quite smoothly.. then my old bad habit kicked in.. think I rushed the quaver part for the 2nd mvt.. ahh..! felt bad when Li En told me off for that.. "Jeremy!! why did you rush?!" hiaz.. gotta get rid of this habit of mine, but it like only appears when I play repeated tongued notes in a soli.. American River songs was an example.. can't help but think maybe I was because of me..
went out to look for my friends..

chatted awhile with Gavilan and the rest..
2nd half was more informal.. the junk jams did their percussion ensemble thing.. sorta like the stomp we had in M8.. so far, other than percussion ensembles, still haven't seen any bands put up any other ensembles.. Clari-Fun-Key was up next.. Wei Jie wasn't playing like his usual self.. but it was quite good, if I were in his shoes, I wouldn't have played even half as well..
Highlights from Beauty and the Beast and Hot Latin were quite ok.. ended off the entire concert with our encore piece, Music from the Incredibles.. and that was it..
couldn't help but feel the concert was only "quite good".. Aureus Experentia means Golden Experience, but think we only delivered a Silver.. also, another thought lingered in my mind that night.. seeing how everyone got flowers, gifts, hugs from their friends who came, made me question.. where are mine? I'm not talking about those material posessions, but the support by friends.. not to say there are none, wanna thank Bernard, Desmond, Angie and Jack for coming.. though I didn't really see them there.. but thats like a tiny itsy bitsy fraction of what it could have been.. at least Wei Jie had someone..

Saturday
went for Ms Ng's wedding with the rest of the class.. took taxi to serangoon gardens as I thought I would be late.. they were meeting at 8.45, but they were still waiting for people.. bought some things to eat while I waited for them.. met Sok Hua and Yu Zhen at the bus stop.. there was also another class going, 0612 I think..
the wedding was held at St Francis Xavier Church.. the last time I was there was for the funeral of one of our ex-principals.. lotsa emotions overcame me when they sang the hymns.. it just reminded me of Montfort and how much being in a catholic school meant.. all the familar hymns and songs.. dunno whether it was tears of joy for them getting married or just the upsurge of memories from the past..
on a more cheerful note, took some pics with the newly wed couple..

and also with Ms Lim..