I am sure many of you have seen this.
Susan Boyle, 47, "country bumpkin, dazzled the crowd and the judges during the auditions for "Britain's Got Talent 2009"
She sang "I dreamed a dream" (Don't ask me about the grammar) from Les Miserables (sounds familiar Secondary 4s?). At first, they laughed at her. "Cyanical" was the word, but after she sang, they weren't laughing anymore.
How could they, when all of their mouths were agape?
I hope that this video will never cease to be a source of inspiration to you, because it has been mine...(at least for the past few days)
Watch Susan Boyle, hd in Entertainment | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Our Deepest Gratitudes.
Hey people!
On the behalf of the whole CHSSB, I would like to extend our deepest gratitudes to all our teachers, alumnis and tutors for their hardwork and their unwavering support to us during the most arduous part of our journey towards our GOAL. (not gold w/hon)
I would also like to take this oppoturnity to thank all the people who gave us their congratulations after SYF for what we have achieved.
(Thanks Mr Leonard Tan!)
Last but not least, though I know this is kind of late, but I want to thank all CHSSB members for not giving up, and perservering on together as a band towards our GOAL during the SYF period. I want to thank every single one of YOU who toiled, struggled, played, and cheered side by side with me, and the rest of the band.
Those memories will really stay with me forever. (Especially how crazy we went after everything..)
And I am sure they will stay with you too.
On the behalf of the whole CHSSB, I would like to extend our deepest gratitudes to all our teachers, alumnis and tutors for their hardwork and their unwavering support to us during the most arduous part of our journey towards our GOAL. (not gold w/hon)
I would also like to take this oppoturnity to thank all the people who gave us their congratulations after SYF for what we have achieved.
(Thanks Mr Leonard Tan!)
Last but not least, though I know this is kind of late, but I want to thank all CHSSB members for not giving up, and perservering on together as a band towards our GOAL during the SYF period. I want to thank every single one of YOU who toiled, struggled, played, and cheered side by side with me, and the rest of the band.
Those memories will really stay with me forever. (Especially how crazy we went after everything..)
And I am sure they will stay with you too.
Sunday, 5 April 2009
Revisionist perspectives of the SYF. Or band for the matter
Continuing from my posts on the Band Blog Tagboard.
I've left the school for 2 years now. But while I don't remember what the school taught me for Physics (I'm an Arts student now) or how many times I was late for school, it's the experiences I've had in Band that I still remember to this very day.
Like, how we played sunrise at sunrise.
Or, how the band screamed their guts out for Jericho (2005 SYF/WMC)
Or perhaps, the evil playing and whacking of timbales, or other instruments for the matter, for Incantation and Dance. (I'm sure some of you guys remember the rhythm)
Or maybe whatever dance moves or choreography we showed at VCH or the Esplanade whenever it was aesthetique.
The ecstasy of hearing the results that we got GWH for 2005 and the heartbreak when we got Silver 2 years later.
And maybe, some of the more unpleasant experiences along the way.
But that's life.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
I'm sure you've heard of that somewhere.
Because many years later, while you might have forgotten your subject content in school (that's why the USA produced Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader... when some of its applicants are Ivy League College Grads), or even how to play your instrument to the standard you are now, it's those memories that you'll remember for life. It's the experiences that brought you along to that final result that you'll keep in your memories.
And speaking of Jericho and Incantation and Dance, I can still play my parts for the pieces. I bet same goes for Yiyong and Junwei.
I've left the school for 2 years now. But while I don't remember what the school taught me for Physics (I'm an Arts student now) or how many times I was late for school, it's the experiences I've had in Band that I still remember to this very day.
Like, how we played sunrise at sunrise.
Or, how the band screamed their guts out for Jericho (2005 SYF/WMC)
Or perhaps, the evil playing and whacking of timbales, or other instruments for the matter, for Incantation and Dance. (I'm sure some of you guys remember the rhythm)
Or maybe whatever dance moves or choreography we showed at VCH or the Esplanade whenever it was aesthetique.
The ecstasy of hearing the results that we got GWH for 2005 and the heartbreak when we got Silver 2 years later.
And maybe, some of the more unpleasant experiences along the way.
But that's life.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
I'm sure you've heard of that somewhere.
Because many years later, while you might have forgotten your subject content in school (that's why the USA produced Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader... when some of its applicants are Ivy League College Grads), or even how to play your instrument to the standard you are now, it's those memories that you'll remember for life. It's the experiences that brought you along to that final result that you'll keep in your memories.
And speaking of Jericho and Incantation and Dance, I can still play my parts for the pieces. I bet same goes for Yiyong and Junwei.
Saturday, 4 April 2009
CHSSB - Our SYF 2009
Hey guys!
Before I start to write anything, I would firstly like to APOLOGISE for the outdated-ness (if there is such a word) of the band web. TO all the "fans" of CHSSB and its web page out there, I AM SO SORRY! (My excuse: Was really busy with SYF and the numerous tests from my teachers) Please forgive me! T_T
You would probably have read all the inspiring posts from Quintus, Louis, Luke etc etc etc. (No Jun Yao?)
Blah Blah Blah. Ok, we have reached what we have desired for since god-knows-when. We have got our GWH. We have got back our pride, our honour, our past glory.But, So what? Like what some of the posts said:" We must keep up with our reputation."
Saw what some of you all wrote on the tagboard: So many bands got GWH, 8 gwh in 4 days,so maybe ours "worthless and useless".
Basically, after all the shouting and screaming and cheering (and hollering at CO and Choir), I had that same thought. If so many bands got GWH, what makes our GWH then?
Then almost immediately, the answer dawned on me.
Let me use an example (specifically Zhen Xi's one):
Let's imagine, in the whole cohort of Secondary 4s (or 3s or 2s or 1s), everyone got at least 85 marks and above for Physics. If I have that initial mentality, I would be thinking :" What the H**L? Everyone got almost the same mark as me? Sian diao la..then like that I might as well get Zero!"
But, for me (only), I would be thinking :" YES YES YES YES YES YES YES! Finally I score in Physics! After so much hard work and mugging...I improved by SO MUCH!"
Yes seriously. I am not being hypocritical. (FYI, my physics is very lousy)
It's the same for our band. From a silver to a GWH is a quantum leap.
Furthermore, to me...
GWH is just GWH.
It's just a certificate.
It's just an award.
It's just 7-8 CCA points (or whatever).
It's just a name.
It may give you (or us for that matter) a momentarily outburst of pride and spontaneous joy, but it is short-lived. Don't you agree? After 20 years, you will worrying about something else instead of remembering what was the date of the SYF year in which we got back GWH.
What comes after SYF and GWH is the cold, hard, cruel reality. Who in the world cares abotu your SYF? Get your A1s, sustain your standards, continue to improve etc etc etc.
But maybe I am mistaken. Maybe the award really is worthless after so many bands got it. Maybe I am wrong. Really, it all depends on what your definition of that award is.
MY definition (after much thoughts) is :GWH is the journey.
I admit that SYF 2009 left me great memories. SO great, I will never ever forget them. And you know what's great about them?
It's not the award.
It's not the my not-screwing-anything part.
It's not "getting back our glory" part.
It's the journey. The numerous practices. The tiring and arduous hours. The hard work we put in to impress and to not disppoint. The nerves that everyone gets right before our performance. The brilliance of our performance. The friendship and bonds between band mates that were strengthened. And the relief that finally, it's all over.
That was what MY GWH is all about. They always say that it is the journey that counts, not the result. I always remained skeptical of that statement, up until now.
So do I think that our award is useless after so many band got the same award?
No.
A blatant no.
Why? Simple.
Because I think our band is unique, not in a way that it is better than others.
But, in a way that, CHSSB has experienced and achieved so many things, before and after SYF, that NO bands anywhere could ever have possibly done so!
I know that this is a very bias statement, and I am sure that not everyone agrees with me. But I don't care. And I know I can't brainwash all of you with this as well.
Because this is my definition of SYF, and of GWH. This is my interpretation of what CHSSB has achieved in April 2009.
I don;t care what pther people got. Because I will never ever (ever x100) forget what I had been through with all my brothers, and what we had experienced and achieved together on-stage and off-stage.
"Unforgettable" is truly the word.
Before I start to write anything, I would firstly like to APOLOGISE for the outdated-ness (if there is such a word) of the band web. TO all the "fans" of CHSSB and its web page out there, I AM SO SORRY! (My excuse: Was really busy with SYF and the numerous tests from my teachers) Please forgive me! T_T
You would probably have read all the inspiring posts from Quintus, Louis, Luke etc etc etc. (No Jun Yao?)
Blah Blah Blah. Ok, we have reached what we have desired for since god-knows-when. We have got our GWH. We have got back our pride, our honour, our past glory.But, So what? Like what some of the posts said:" We must keep up with our reputation."
Saw what some of you all wrote on the tagboard: So many bands got GWH, 8 gwh in 4 days,so maybe ours "worthless and useless".
Basically, after all the shouting and screaming and cheering (and hollering at CO and Choir), I had that same thought. If so many bands got GWH, what makes our GWH then?
Then almost immediately, the answer dawned on me.
Let me use an example (specifically Zhen Xi's one):
Let's imagine, in the whole cohort of Secondary 4s (or 3s or 2s or 1s), everyone got at least 85 marks and above for Physics. If I have that initial mentality, I would be thinking :" What the H**L? Everyone got almost the same mark as me? Sian diao la..then like that I might as well get Zero!"
But, for me (only), I would be thinking :" YES YES YES YES YES YES YES! Finally I score in Physics! After so much hard work and mugging...I improved by SO MUCH!"
Yes seriously. I am not being hypocritical. (FYI, my physics is very lousy)
It's the same for our band. From a silver to a GWH is a quantum leap.
Furthermore, to me...
GWH is just GWH.
It's just a certificate.
It's just an award.
It's just 7-8 CCA points (or whatever).
It's just a name.
It may give you (or us for that matter) a momentarily outburst of pride and spontaneous joy, but it is short-lived. Don't you agree? After 20 years, you will worrying about something else instead of remembering what was the date of the SYF year in which we got back GWH.
What comes after SYF and GWH is the cold, hard, cruel reality. Who in the world cares abotu your SYF? Get your A1s, sustain your standards, continue to improve etc etc etc.
But maybe I am mistaken. Maybe the award really is worthless after so many bands got it. Maybe I am wrong. Really, it all depends on what your definition of that award is.
MY definition (after much thoughts) is :GWH is the journey.
I admit that SYF 2009 left me great memories. SO great, I will never ever forget them. And you know what's great about them?
It's not the award.
It's not the my not-screwing-anything part.
It's not "getting back our glory" part.
It's the journey. The numerous practices. The tiring and arduous hours. The hard work we put in to impress and to not disppoint. The nerves that everyone gets right before our performance. The brilliance of our performance. The friendship and bonds between band mates that were strengthened. And the relief that finally, it's all over.
That was what MY GWH is all about. They always say that it is the journey that counts, not the result. I always remained skeptical of that statement, up until now.
So do I think that our award is useless after so many band got the same award?
No.
A blatant no.
Why? Simple.
Because I think our band is unique, not in a way that it is better than others.
But, in a way that, CHSSB has experienced and achieved so many things, before and after SYF, that NO bands anywhere could ever have possibly done so!
I know that this is a very bias statement, and I am sure that not everyone agrees with me. But I don't care. And I know I can't brainwash all of you with this as well.
Because this is my definition of SYF, and of GWH. This is my interpretation of what CHSSB has achieved in April 2009.
I don;t care what pther people got. Because I will never ever (ever x100) forget what I had been through with all my brothers, and what we had experienced and achieved together on-stage and off-stage.
"Unforgettable" is truly the word.
Thursday, 2 April 2009
Leonard Tan's congratulations!
On Facebook...
"Leonard Tan congratulates Catholic High School Symphony Band! One band, one sound, one brotherhood! Bravo gentlemen! "
and so do i. great job, men and boys of Chssb.
Just to let you all know...after i sent him the news that CHSSB had won GWH, he sent me back...
"YAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great to hear abt this absolutely FANTASTIC NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I actually stayed up to listen to the band LIVE via the telephone......I was so proud of your juniors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have SO MANY LOVELY memories of the band!!!! CONGRATULATIONS TO CHSSB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I actually teared when i saw this and am still tearing as i type this. Where in the world can you find such a man who will stay up till 3am just to hear his former band play? Go figure.
"Leonard Tan congratulates Catholic High School Symphony Band! One band, one sound, one brotherhood! Bravo gentlemen! "
and so do i. great job, men and boys of Chssb.
Just to let you all know...after i sent him the news that CHSSB had won GWH, he sent me back...
"YAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great to hear abt this absolutely FANTASTIC NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I actually stayed up to listen to the band LIVE via the telephone......I was so proud of your juniors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have SO MANY LOVELY memories of the band!!!! CONGRATULATIONS TO CHSSB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I actually teared when i saw this and am still tearing as i type this. Where in the world can you find such a man who will stay up till 3am just to hear his former band play? Go figure.
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
The Value of GWH
Hey all. Can't really sleep after all the excitement and chong pang nonsense so I'll just post a little on my thoughts.
SYF hasn't been a very eventful journey, but if you think deep it is. Here's how it goes for me: initially, I was a medal-obssessed beast. I don't deny it. I was HUNGRY for Gold with Honours! Then came new thoughts about lots of things; like our musicality fading and other stuff. I started thinking, were we just looking at the medal that we wanted (sorry, certificate) and not really focusing on what really mattered? Thankfully, Fei Yang's talk seemed to have a positive effect on everyone and we all (while still HUNGRY for gold with honours) started to strive to get our musicality into the pieces.
Alright, enough repeated stuff that you all have heard for a million times. After today, after going crazy and screaming our voices till there's no voice left and band-cheering about 7 times or more, I realised one thing: that Gold with Honours might be redemption, but it is a very little bit of it. It's hardly worth mentioning if you have redemption in mind. Gold with Honours is recognition for putting on a good performance, of course. But best of all, I really love the happiness coursing through everyone when we attained it. It was bloody addictive! Damn! I really wish I could go back in time and listen to the results get announced and jump up screaming again.
And even better is how some people whose hearts were never really in the band seemed to change after the screamfest. That's really fantastic. Join the train ride man.
This is a day I'll never forget!
SYF hasn't been a very eventful journey, but if you think deep it is. Here's how it goes for me: initially, I was a medal-obssessed beast. I don't deny it. I was HUNGRY for Gold with Honours! Then came new thoughts about lots of things; like our musicality fading and other stuff. I started thinking, were we just looking at the medal that we wanted (sorry, certificate) and not really focusing on what really mattered? Thankfully, Fei Yang's talk seemed to have a positive effect on everyone and we all (while still HUNGRY for gold with honours) started to strive to get our musicality into the pieces.
Alright, enough repeated stuff that you all have heard for a million times. After today, after going crazy and screaming our voices till there's no voice left and band-cheering about 7 times or more, I realised one thing: that Gold with Honours might be redemption, but it is a very little bit of it. It's hardly worth mentioning if you have redemption in mind. Gold with Honours is recognition for putting on a good performance, of course. But best of all, I really love the happiness coursing through everyone when we attained it. It was bloody addictive! Damn! I really wish I could go back in time and listen to the results get announced and jump up screaming again.
And even better is how some people whose hearts were never really in the band seemed to change after the screamfest. That's really fantastic. Join the train ride man.
This is a day I'll never forget!
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