Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Hello hello everyone! (:

2008's coming to an end & I hope everyone of you had a great year! :) Thanks a lot for all the love, support, advice that our seniors had given us! We really appreciate it ok! :) 2009 marks the start of a new year, for the choir to continue growing as one, working to be a better choir! (: Next year's going to be really hectic, with LUEs, MSAs, SYF, MORE MSAs, A's! Yeah, so please rest well during this holidays all right so that we prepare well for the year ahead!~ :D

Our very first choir session in 2009 will be:

3rd January 2009 (Sat)
Meet at 8.45am sharp in cafe k! (:
PT first, & rehearsal with Mr Tay later!

I've mass smsed everyone already! Haha hope to see you all there k, && will remind you all again soon! (:

Happy New Year 2009 in a short lil while! (:

Love you all,
<333 ztt!




the music played{9:23 PM}

Monday, December 29, 2008

haha my god i can still blog here!

hello from an age long gone and past! heh. (:

-elroy




the music played{10:36 PM}

Friday, December 19, 2008

On the 8th December 2008, SAJChorale embarked on a 10-day trip to Prague in the 9th International Competition Festival of Advent and Christmas Music with a simple purpose in mind: to GEL - Grow together as a choir, Experience other cultures and different kinds of choral music and Learn from other choirs. Highlights of this trip were the numerous charity performances in churches and castles, sightseeing and learning more about the history and culture of the Czech Republic, “Prague by Night” as well as the competition.

Outdoor rehearsals with jumping-jacks were conducted for acclimatisation to the frosty weather. During a sightseeing tour, we visited a church where the priest invited us to give an impromptu performance. He was so thrilled with our performance that he had our photographs taken to be published in the church’s newsletter and gave each of us an exquisite artwork as souvenirs to bring home. Also, we visited Gymnázium Český Krumlov High School to learn more about the education system there. We truly enjoyed the sightseeing of the picturesque school, our performance for the high school students and forging new friendship with the welcoming students.

We had the opportunity to perform at different renaissance, baroque and gothic churches and castles with astounding acoustics - we heard for the first time what sacred music was meant to sound like! Our first performance was at the Opening Festival Concert at Liben Castle where we showcased a few of our competition pieces and other familiar carols. We were also selected to perform in the Advent Concert the following day at the St. Nicholas Church where we sang and danced to folksongs from South-East Asia.

“Prague by Night” was a rich buffet dinner cruise on a yacht that sailed down the Vltava River, running through Prague’s city centre and affording us with beautiful night scenes of Prague Castle, Charles Bridge and the likes, with other choirs onboard. It was a really splendid evening.

On competition day, every chorister was filled with apprehension and jitters. We were one of the smallest choirs (only 21 of us!) and the only one to participate in two categories that were both held on the same day. We were here for the experience and did not expect to win major prizes, having heard superb singing from other choirs in prior concerts. Nonetheless, everyone put their best foot forward and by the grace of God, SAJChorale won a Gold medal and emerged as the overall champion of the “Youth Choir Category” as well as a silver medal for the “Adult Folklore Category”. For the 1st time in the history of SAJChorale, we had made our mark in the international choral scene.

The trip was concluded by a good-will concert at a rehabilitation centre, Červený Dvůr Castle in Český Krumlov. After our respective items, we invited The Boulevard Harmonists from South Africa for a combined item and together with the SAJChorale, sang “O Come O Ye Faithful” as our last song to a standing ovation from an appreciative audience. It was an enjoyable, eye-opening and enriching experience!

Written by: Chaw Wei Liang (08S10) & Szecindyo Chewandi (08S27)



I figured out that the seniors won't get to read this write-up next year since they're leaving SAJC for either NS or universities. So, to be fair to them, I think this write up should put online for them and the rest to read. :D :D

Also, we, the juniors would like to express our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the seniors' participation in this trip and for the teachers I/C: Ms Ng and Ms Du, for being our mother, father, brother, sister and teacher whenever we need them. And Mr. Tay for always being very encouraging and caring disciplinarian helping us whenever we need. Thank you so so much Mr. Tay, teachers and seniors!! :D

Hope you all enjoy the trip as much as I did!! :D

Yours sincerely,
Szecindyo




the music played{1:47 PM}

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Facebook Group

Dear all, I've set up a Facebook group that I think is easier to use. The name is "St. Andrew's Junior College Choir" (or you can click on the link...). I'll approve you guys and change exco(and former exco) members to admin ASAP. This should also make it easier in the future for alumni to take part in activities, such as concerts and caroling.

Anyway, heard you J1s(and some J2s) are going caroling. Have fun, and remember to SMILE!

Yeo




the music played{9:09 PM}