choir <3

And I've often wondered, how did it all start
Who found out that nothing can capture a heart like a melody can

VIVA VOX III was the best! we gave our all onstage, and after every song we sang, knowing we'd done it well caused us to smile so hard there was nothing we could do to stop! : D all the rehearsals, all our efforts, all those late nights.. at that moment everything was worthwhile. : D that night was one of the best ones of my entire life! we had the best concert in SAJChorale history, and i wouldn't have changed a thing! the feeling of being without a single tinge of regret is just pure bliss : D

i really don't know what i'd do without choir! 3 days after the concert and i'm still having withdrawal symptoms! the songs are still playing in my head.. the first clashing note for kyrie, the climax in pater noster, the soprano 1's high note in irish blessing, and even the words of GASTON!!! images from vch still float about my mind.. the squeezy backstage. everyone's faces before, after and during concert. walking down the aisles during procession. mr tay's thumbs-up after each song! [:

thanks to everyone who came! liphin, gen, huilin, huiqi and zj for surprising me! : D everyone for the flowers and presents afterwards, especially the surprise present at home which was so sweeet [:

evan & i on the bus! they forced me to wear that orange thingy!

went out with headbangerz after concert, ended up in macs since everything was closed! reached home at 1 AM extremely exhausted!

still high from post concert! stuffed the flowers into random mailboxes and took pics : D ahaha.

me and my sister! how could you miss kyrie! ):

the next morning was concert debrief and sucker me started sobbing to myself when mr tay was teaching us a new song. the song wasn't even on the sad side \: i just couldn't hold back the tears, couldn't look at the choristers faces, so i couldn't help but look down at the AVA floor. while teardrops fell onto the stage, mental images of times i've spent looking at that floor flashed through my mind. i particularly remembered doing stretches, how it seemed an eternity before i heard the words "breathe in and come up!" i thought of how much i'd miss that, no matter how tiring it usually was for me \: i also remembered practicing the stomping for 'america', and lying down on that floor when i was tired during rehearsals. somehow i felt like i'd taken choir for granted sometimes. and i thought of all the "could have beens", even all the people i could have known better. that got me even sadder.. so i cried more ): stopped awhile but alexis came and told me she's miss me, then we hugged and i started sobbing again ):

i looked horrible after that, but still took pictures for keepsakes. theresa, me, cheryl, and kenny at the back!

music is truly a very important part of my life. it has touched me in so many ways, too many to count.. it has moved me to tears, it puts a smile on my face through even the worst of times, and it just touches me in such a special way that only music-makers will understand. music is a gift to us, just like the message of one of our songs.. 'thank you for the music, the songs i'm singing, thanks for all the joy i'm bringing. who can live without it? i ask in all honesty, what would life be? without a song or a dance, what are we?'

it's not just the music, but also the people. i've spent amazing times with amazing people, which makes school all the more interesting as well : D now i cannot imagine how school will be like in july when we come back, and there's no more choir! no more late monday nights (and maybe POPing before that!), no more student-led sectionals, no more PT on early saturday mornings!! SIGH ): life somewhat feels empty... i think stepping down has created a void in my heart that can only be filled by sajc choir \:

so from english to latin, to even chinese, from the bubbly barbara ann to the emotion-filled te quiero, the churchy motets to the fun medleys, from my favourite songs (I LOVE ALL!) to the tense pater noster which i once hated.. i will remember all the music we made and shared together, know that nothing can ever replace it, and keep these memories close to my heart now and always.

For as long as I have music, as long as there's a song for me to sing.. I can find my way, I can see a brighter day.. the music in my life will set my spirit free