it's over! (part 2)
ITS OVER! ladies and gentlemen, i now proudly say that i have completed a successful performance at the Esplanade, thereby fulfilling the first of my life's objectives. last night was THE best night of my life. words cannot explain the feeling that i got upon finishing the last note of the Sacred Suite.

i was literally soaking up the atmosphere of the esplanade during the last week, going there al total of 5 times for Rapture and One Family, One Flag rehearsals and performances. i really love the whole place. i felt.. home. i felt like i belonged there. seriously. everytime i go to the esplanade i just get a strange vibe that i cannot explain. i would just walk around the changing room areas, up to circle 3, then down to the basement and the orchestra pit, to the toilets, to the green room, artist lounge, changing rooms, just to 'soak up' the atmosphere. rapture was really fun. made a few new friends. the models were a really nice bunch!

the decision to join the sajccb was probably one of the best decisions i have and will ever make in my life. i still remember watching enviously, wearing a Team Sajc shirt before bowling training one eventful day, as the band members were shifting instruments for a rehearsal in the Malan Rd hall. in a moment of decisiveness i heard myself asking this small, approachable girl (who turned out to be Xiu Li, haha) whether i could join the band. she looked rather shocked that anyone would ask that question, and after a few awkward seconds, she told me to wait. she dropped the suspended cymbal (yeah i now know what it's called) she was carrying and scurried to the hall, hauling the president (who turned out to be named Eugene) out. my first impression of him was that he had a face that looked liked he was smiling (upturned lip). he was like 'ahh, u call this guy Moses, ahh, oh and Ms Ho, ahh and yeah ahh we'll ahh see if we can fit you in because the percussion section is quite big. yeah..ahh..see you around.' from then on it just got better. still can remember everything very well and i am glad that i have gained what i had expected to gain: musical excellence and exposure, only on a much much larger scale. never expected to perform at the esplanade too. i have improved not only as a perucssionist, but as a pianist too. experiences (of course combined with the ability to express these experiences) make a musician. i've learned so much. agh i don't know what to say!

ailwdu h12p9d pq928duiawe aiwh. my thoughts are evidently all over the place right now. screw the perfect expression that i strive for. i have lived part of my dream. i now feel like more of an SAJCian, tho i still do not know the words of the school song/college hymn.

One Family, One Flag may not have meant much to others, but to me, it meant a lot. i cannot really say much. i would not exchange that experience for anything else in the world right now. i don't know what to say now, really, now that is is over and that i have experienced it. thank you band for playing thank you everyone for coming. thanks thanks thanks. mind is quite messed up now too. body clock is upside down. didnt sleep the whole of last night. went out to celebrate with a few friends. got to them better. reached home at 6.10am slept until 5.30pm. oh yeah the j1s put up an item for us after the whole thing. that was great too. emotionally charged night last night really. i just wish i could let loose my emotions sometimes. best night of my life. sigh. it was crazy. crazy. can't believe it.
- Ben @ 12:04 am