SYF 2007

SYF 2007, a competition. This year, we had set out to achieve what our seniors had accomplished 2 years ago, getting the GOLD WITH HONORS medal. We struggled to play up to expectation, not wanting to disappoint the alumni, the teachers and most of all, ourselves. The journey was not easy, charged with fleeting emotions and layed with sweat and hardwork. It seemed impossible, but we just did it anyway and finally thought we were ready...or so we thought.

The big day arrived. We woke up at 3am and got to school before 4.30am. We warmed up and ran through the set piece "Sunrise" and "Incantation and Dance" a few times just to refresh our memory of how Ms Tan wanted us to play so as to bring out MUSIC.

(Fast forward...)

Feeling nervous and anxious, we waited patiently outside before going into the hall to perform. We prayed and calmly collected ourselves. We started off abit shaky but soon adjusted and continued. Then it was incantation, change of mood and tone. At the end of both, I was feeling tense, not sure if we had done it. Others felt that yes, we did it. Once we got out, Tzung siang approached Yuesheng and I and said that we did good. Felt happy and think I teared a little because we had indeed played MUSIC that touched the Audience and it was our best.

We ate nasi lemak for lunch and waited for the announcing of the results. We were hoping that we would get what we wanted, (GWH) or (GOLD) at least. But we were shocked when we heard we got Silver. I was lost for words while others could be seen crying. I tried to refrain from crying as well. After we went out of the hall and collected our instruments, we prayed to thank GOD and I could not help but cry. Our best was not enough...but the teachers were happy as we already did what we could and were the only ones that played real music.

At first it was hard to accept but after talks from the leaders, teachers, seniors, I finally came to terms with it today and accepted it. We will work on the parts that are not so good and aim to do even better for SYF 2009. (WE must!) But we will not let this award to affect and change our way of playing expressive music from the heart ( a cat high tradition).

At the end of it, just want to thank GOD for letting us go through this priceless experience to count on him all the time and to rejoice in times of trouble and difficulty for everything happens for a reason, and I feel that we have come out of it, stronger, more determined and more mature.

Yup, Bye.