Sunday, December 21, 2008

mssba Latest Updates

Few things for this post.

1. TPJC BAND FESTIVAL!

I would like to thank members that have spent their time playing with the TPJC band in this TPJC Band Festival. I hope all of you have learnt something from Mr Surapol through this Band Festival.

Members that participated for this Band festival: Hao Siang, Jin Yan, Chien Teng, Nicholas Tan, Stanley, Chang Jun, Hwee Young, Seung Hwa, Dwayne, Darren, Wee Chong, Raymond, Lionel, Ryan, Nicholas Chew, Jun Xiang, Zhen Cheng, Chan Lun, Aaron, Caveat, James, Nicholas Wu, Ken Tan, Sean, Wai Yip, Fredy.

Hope it is a fun and good experience for all!

2. Registration of mssba.

We will be registering ourselves under the Maris Stella Alumni Association. Thus there will be some changes and postponement of event(s) for the 1st 3 months of 2009. Nevertheless, practice will continue as we need to practise for our WMC choice and set piece.

There will be announcement of changes to the mssbalumni in the next Practice which will be on 10th January 2009.

3. 16th World Music Contest

Please take note, our participation in the 16th World Music Contest 2nd Division has been confirmed by the WMC organizers. Dates will be finalized in January.

For now, the competition slot will be on either 17th or 18th July 2009.
Please keep your 15th/16th -24th/25th July 2009 period free.


4. Singapore Youth Festival 2009

As all of you may know, 2009 will be the SYF year for Secondary schools and JCs. Of course, our Maris Stella Main Band will be participating for it. I hope all available seniors from ALL Sections can come down and coach your main band juniors on Saturday. I guess it is not very nice to have a not too bad Alumni Band but a lousy Main Band. I guess nobody in the Alumni wants to hear people saying to give comments like: "your alumni good but your main band not good" or anything of that sort that maybe negative for both mssba and main band.

Thus, I would like to see all the seniors who can come back to help out with the main band to come back and teach.

Gold or not, depends on us and them. Gold with Honours or not depends on how much both bands work together.

5. MSSBA PRACTICE!

Alumni Practice will resume on 10th January 2009. We will be trying out our WMC Set Piece and of course choice pieces. At the same time, will announce some changes to mssba too. So everyone please attend the practice. Important.

Thanks!

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Christmas is coming. Hope everyone has a WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS!! I want my presents!!! haha.

Merry Christmas mssba members!!

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fredy
maris stella symphonic band alumni
~the legacy continues~

Saturday, September 27, 2008

SIBF Recording + Upcoming Events

All Maris Alumni members,

A few things for this post, (PLEASE READ YOUR EMAIL CAREFULLY)

SIBF RECORDING
(DO NOT DISTRIBUTE THE RECORDING!)

I have received the Official Recording for our SIBF performance.

YESH. FINALLY! After SO LONG of waiting.

So let us hear the TEASER!!




I like how we have played on that day. Quite impressed by how we all have played. Never thought we will sound that way. Personally I like Air (minus those out of tunes back ground at the beginning before the piccolo comes in). then followed by Hymn and Chosen. haha. March... I just don't like it as much, especially the middle part.

BUT nevertheless everyone did a FANTASTIC job on that day. BIG HURRAY for everyone!

* Also I want to say one thing. I am really proud of this Maris Alumni. Seriously, if you listen to our Competition recordings or performance recordings since we have formed in 2004. I really think we have improved alot! Really ALOT! With our players getting better and the music we play getting more difficult (of course alot of ppl still want easier pieces, haha). So I am really proud to be in Maris Alumni. This is HOW MUCH we have gone through and HOW MUCH we have improved. All our hardwork.

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All of you, please kindly check your email for the DL link.

Have mastered the recording to be SURROUND SOUND and 5.1 Enabled. So can hear with full surround sound.

---------------------------------------------------

Upcoming Events




THUS Pratice will resume on 11th October 2008, Saturday! Yesh, we will need to go through "TORMENT" again! haha

We will be Premiering quite a few pieces thus we seriously need to everyone's cooperation to play them well.

--------------------------------------------

16th World Music Contest

As some of you have known, the SET PIECE for our WMC contest is out.

Our Set piece is by Johan De Meij - Dutch Masters Suite. A 3 movement piece.

Also, I would like to clear all those rumours or whatsoever that has been going around (whether conductors or other bands).

Maris Stella Symphonic Band Alumni is going for 2nd Division in WMC.

Thank you for appreciating our playing and our band but we are neither going for 1st Division nor Open Division in the WMC. We have yet to reach that standard to compete with the world's best in that arena of band playing. Thank you for your concern too! ^^

Do come and support us in our concert!!

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Cheers,

fredy chia
maris stella symphonic band alumni
~the legacy continues~

Sunday, September 14, 2008

WMC 2009

i think many of u guys already know that the set piece for WMC 2009 is out.

the music committee is currently working on the choice piece. the admin committee is working on the preparation for WMC 2009. we hope to see more ppl joining us for the upcoming competition, so every1 pls be patient.

the trip this time round will be different. less sightseeing but more interaction. how does that sound? will be giving u guys a rough idea of the trip when alumni prac resumes.

Chee Zhen Cheng Jason
Logistics Head
Maris Stella Symphonic Band Alumni

Monday, August 04, 2008

Alumni Band Dinner Cfmed

ok guys. the long awaited band dinner is cfmed.

from the polls we had almost 50% of our ppl voting for sakura international buffet. so we shall go there :D

WHAT: Alumni band dinner
WHEN: This coming sunday, 10th AUG, 6pm
WHERE: Balestier Shaw Plaza

Those that dunno how to go, feel free to ask me or fredy. we will be more den willing to help u guys. pls take note that if u are arriving late or cannot make it for the dinner, pls inform me or fredy as we need to confirm the total number of people asap as well as make arrangements for those late comers. thx!

Jason Chee
Logistics Head
Maris Stella Symphonic Band Alumni

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

TJ Alumni Concert + Trophy + Recording

All mssbalumni members,


There will be TJ alumni Band concert on 2nd August, tthis coming saturday in VCH! Ticket price at $12!!

playing Count on Monte Cristo, James barnes- Symphony number 4.

Please do go and support! Lin Sheng is conducting too!

Those who need tickets, let me know!!

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For those who still have yet to receive the recording, please come and find me. It is an unofficial recording though.

OFFICIAL RECORDING will not be out so soon from the organizer.

One thing that I need to inform you all.

FOR FINALS! There will ONLY be VIDEO DVD. (-_-) but for SEMI FINALS we will have both Audio and Video recording.

I'm cheated!! haha about having Pro Audio recording for FINALS!! grr!! Never mind..

We shall record our own professional recording next time.

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our trophy pic.

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PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE FOR THE BAND DINNER!!!! haha

PS from me: why seoul and sakura tie!!?!?! haha.. seoul garden, I don't feel like cooking leh!!! haha...

fredy chia
maris stella symphonic band alumni
~the legacy continues~

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Band Dinner VOTING!!

Ok. I have a poll for all mssbalumni members and friends of mssba. It is regarding the up-coming Band dinner to celebrate our success in the recent competitions (should i include NBC too?). Anyways u guys have to take note that there are 2 dates & 4 restaurants so total of 8 choices. So pls do not vote the wrong 1. Thx!

This Band Dinner is a treat for everyone in mssbalumni.

Rice table suggested by Mr Chiang. He said not bad.




Jason Chee
Logistics Head
Maris Stella Symphonic Band Alumni

Sunday, July 27, 2008

SIBF Results!!! TOP BAND!!

To ALL mssbalumni members!!

On Thursday, 24th July 2008, the SIBF Semi Finals, we competed with 6 other bands from Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong and emerged as the Top 4 Finalists in the with the score of 89.14%! It was really good!

Then on Saturday, 26th July 2008, the SIBF Finals, we competed with 3 other bands and emerged as the TOP BAND for the whole Open Division!!! ARGH!! let's SCREAM~~~~~~

EVERYONE YOU ALL HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB!!

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It is really unbelievable, I can still remember clearly how we sound like on thursday. It was so scary when our Singapore River was only our 4th day pract. Seriously, it was very miraculous that with only about 5-6 hours of practices on that song, we managed to bring it up for the Semi Finals competition. I guess everyone seriously work very hard to handle this piece. ^^. Good job.
I guess we have very busy schedule this week, Friday was our founder's day dinner and we were asked to perform, so we have wasted one day of practice before Finals. Especially when we are changing and adding new songs to the Finals repertoire.

We could only work on our pieces, Sunshine Breeze March (which was something we have yet to play for like 2 weeks) and Suite on Celtic Folk Song 2nd Movement - Air (which was a new addition).

Seriously, I am VERY proud of mssba because we managed to settle and clear AIR in just 2 hours. It was really impressive. March too, you all have yet to forget those things Mr Chiang and Lin Sheng said. very good.

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This month of July is seriously a VERY tiring month for EVERYONE in the mssba (yesh.. I am DEAD TIRED!). Thank you very much, you all have really done a good job.

[from this part of the blog post onwards is my personal thoughts and feeling for the band, if I have said anything wrong, people you all can just flame me all you want! I don't care since I am just expressing myself]

13th July 2008 was a day I will remember for quite long probably forever. We were awarded a Gold with 81% and 5th position. It was really the most disappointed moments for me and other mssbalumni members. Apparently that was one of the time when I actually felt that we didn't play that badly. Everyone was sad on the way back.. It was a total silence on the bus... with everyone looking so sad. Really very sad. All I heard was some of our whining after that. It was something I have yet to see in mssba. It was a gold yet none of us is really happy. I should say it is NOT about the medal, it is about our %. We as the players think we actually deserved something higher than that (this doesn't mean we are better than any bands, I am NOT making comparison), we just thought we have something nice and deserve to earn more % than just a mere 81%. That week was really horrible, everybody was so DEMORALIZED by the results until all of us know about the actual reason. It was the MOST hard to get over period of time for mssba. Guys, we got through it! good job.

20th July 2008, we went for the NBC HONOUR BANDS Concert as one of the invited bands. We played well and I was really happy to be able to hear that kind of playing from mssba. Even though we may not sound as good as competition day but we played our best at that moment.

24th July 2008, mssba went TRCC for the 1st time to compete with other Open Division bands. It was the scariest performance we have ever gotten. The shell of the hall was removed, it was changed to curtains. you won't be able to hear anyone except for yourself. It was very scary. Everyone seems to be in another world, all I could hear on that day was myself, wai yip and clar (when the soft part), piccolo at the solo... other than that.. I couldn't hear a single thing! Everyone should still remember that. Before the results, we have all prepared for the worst. We have not brought any expectations on us except for being the last band of the day. The results were rather unexpected for all of us. We were in the Top 4 finalists and we are ranked 3rd! That' s something all of us have not expected. At the same time, we got our very own 1st Silver for mssba with a score of 89.14%. According to SYF and NBC standard, this kind of percentage is already Gold with Distinction.

26th July 2008, we have decided to add and changed 2 pieces. We only practice them on the very day of competition does make everyone feel unsafe but no choice. We have to do it. In Esplanade Concert Hall, we competed with the Thailand, Hong Kong and ACSI for the Champion of Open Division. I would like to thank Thailand and Hong Kong band members for wishing us good luck. you all really great people. Seriously very good and well musicians. We may not have known each other but all of us have the same passsion, that's music. Music should be the medium that connects everyone, even in the aspect of competition, Music should be placed first and not about winning the competition. It was a nice experience for mssba to be able to compete along with you guys. really good competitors. The results of the competition is something I myself have never expected. We got the CHAMPION for the Open Division. It was really unexpected.

** please take note comments will not be given by the organizer for the FINALS

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These 4 dates something we have worked so hard for over the past 1 month plus. Everyone has seriously put in a lot of effort to make all these things possible. It was a good effort everyone, even though like what Mr Chiang has said, there are some people who may have given more.

Everyone please do bear in my mind that we are the Champion for this very moment only. After this we are back to square one. Lin Sheng asked me to tell everyone to still remember the passion for music and not too be overly confident. yesh, we should remember that, being a Gold / Top Band is just something that is going to be there for a while. Playing out good music will be our ultimate aim. Audience are our ultimate judges, only when they like our playing and our music, that's when we can finally tell everyone proudly that we have actually played well.

Let us continue to bring our music to the audience in Singapore and outside of Singapore too. Let us continue to play well and improve and excel.

We have improved really a lot in this month of july! I have really heard the improvement in this band. Very impressive improvement. Intonation problems were really getting lesser each day. I am so impressed with EVERYONE OF YOU!

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For all these achievements we have made.. I guess.. we need to thank a lot of people!!!

Lin Sheng (music director): Thank you for coaching and working with us through numerous practices, without you I guess we won't be as good as we sound today. You are really the Magic of mssba! Thank you very much. I hope we have not disappointed you in any way.

Mr Chiang (conductor): Thank you for spending tonnes of practices with us during over the past 1 month plus. It is really not easy having so many bands and still manage your time that well. Really thank you for conducting us. Of course congratulations for having 2 top bands under your belt now! Your baby brought you alot of good luck! haha.

Committee members: It has been a very terrible month for committee too. We have all played our part by contributing to this band, Haryl, Zhen Cheng, Caveat, Clement and Stanley. Thank you for helping in this band. Really good job on whatever things you all have done for mssba.

Soloists: Chien Teng (Chosen + Celtic + Hymn), Hao Siang (Chosen + Celtic), Douglas (Chosen), Alexius (Chosen), Stanley (Hymn), Rasull (Hymn), Daniel (Hymn), Bao Wen (Chosen), Zhen Cheng (Sunshine + Chosen), Chan Lun (Sunshine + Chosen), Alan (Chosen + Celtic), Leon (Chosen), Loo Kit (Chosen), Clement (Chosen), Ronny (Chosen), Ryan (Chosen), Aaron (Chosen), Caveat (Chosen), Lian Wei (Chosen), Ken (Chosen), Wang Xu + Zheng Yi (Chosen), Garrett (Hymn), Wai Yip (Chosen), Zheng Chu (Celtic + Hymn).

did I leave out anyone? Tell me I did! ^^. You guys have really done very well!! Really very well! all of the solos are GOOD! Good job!

Friends of mssba (FOM): Frankie, Rasull, Jeremy, Daniel, Alan, Leon, Loo Kit, Ronny, Lian Wei, Caile, Wang Xu, Zheng Yi. Thank you for helping us! Hope you all have enjoyed playing with us for so many times or years? haha. yeah! Thank you very much.

members of mssba!!: ALL OF YOU! DID A VERY GOOD JOB! Thank you for spending your time on this band, without you all! We won't be able to achieve this kind of results! Seriously, You all are the best!!!! To those A's and O's members, please work hard and study! Come back and play after exams we have more exciting things waiting for all of you! Let's us play together as a band once again!!

One more group of PPL! haha

our Main band members that help us!! : Hendrik, Amos, Ye Rong, Clement, Xin Yu and others, sorry I forgot your names! But you guys help real LOT! haha. you all will definitely get ur CIP hours! haha

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Alumni band will now break for a while before we continue with our plans! So During this break please still remember to practice your instruments!!!

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The upcoming plan for Alumni Band will be as follows. More detailed information will be sent via email!

End of year: Concert (Singapore + Overseas), For the Overseas concert someone (not me.. school side) has actually planned for us, you all should know who.

Next year: 16th World Music Contest. We have been invited by them to participate for this competition again. This time round we will need to play better than the last round!!

For all these upcoming plans, I DO NOT WISH TO LEAVE OUT ANYONE THAT IS IN MSSBA now! As long as you played with us this time round, I will not leave you out! I hope we can play as a band again cause I think all of us really bonded pretty well when playing together as a band!
Let's work hard together guys!!! Let us continue our mssba legacy! ~the legacy continues~





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ONE MORE THING!! Band Dinner. There will be a band dinner coming up, everyone please make sure you are free and attend this band dinner!!! We will msg you all the time and venue! Do take note!! Also for the much long awaited mssba t-shirt! ^^

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fredy chia
maris stella symphonic band alumni
~the legacy continues~

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Tuesday, July 22, 2008

mssbalumni members

The Month of july has been a very hectic and busy month for all mssbalumni members.

All of you have really worked really hard. Really very very hard.

Thank you all for working so hard for this band.

It may be tiring but please do remember we are in this band to make music and play together again with all our old friends.


No matter what results we get for the upcoming SIBF, let's not forget about our passion, our music and our hard work.

As long as there is a member of the audience believe in our playing, like and appreciate our music, that's something that worth more than anything else.

We play music to Touch people's Heart, to convey the message by the composer, to entertain people. Audience is always our main target group. Adjudicators will be listening to us for once only but audience the our supporter that may support us along the way.

No matter how we fare in SIBF...

All I want to say is mssbalumni members, you all have done a good job! Really good job! Thank you all for ALL the hard work!

Without you all, there won't be mssbalumni in this current status. Let us move on together.

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Achievements by mssbalumni members for mssbalumni

WMC 05 - Gold

NBC 06 - Gold

NBC 08 - Gold


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Thank you guys, Lin Sheng, Mr Chiang and committee members.


Fredy Chia
maris stella symphonic band alumni
~the legacy continues~

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

MUCH awaited COMMENTS of NBC Judges!

mssba members!


I have attached pictures of our MUCH AWAITED comments!

Click on the link for BIGGER pic


Prof Ho - Sunshine

Prof Ho - Hymn

Prof John Howard - Sunshine

Prof John Howard - Hymn

Mr Mitsuo Nonami - Sunshine

Mr Mitsuo Nonami - Hymn

First up will be Associate Professor Ho Hwee Long:



Next is from Prof. John Howard









Last judges, Mr Mitsuo Nonami











So guys, you all have "FUN" reading these comments.

I am sure everyone knows what happened by now. ^^

--

mssba! LET'S FIGHT!!

JIAYOU!!

--


fredy chia
maris stella symphonic band alumni
~the legacy continues~

The truth behind mssba 81%!

I have gotten the score sheets from the organisers and I finally understand about our 81%.

I shall NOT NAMED the judges down here EVEN THOUGH I WOULD LOVE TO but I shall give him some respect still. All judges are named in Alphabet of A, B and C.

* 1st results are Set piece, 2nd result is the Choice piece

Chung Cheng High Yishun
A: 76, 78
B: 78, 83
C: 83, 82

Singapore Management University Symphonia
A: 82, 87
B: 85, 86
C: 91, 92

Anderson Junior College
A: 80, 84
B: 84, 86
C: 88, 89

ITE Combined Band
A: 80, 80
B: 78, 81
C: 78, 78

Fajar Secondary School Symphonic Band
A: 72, 75
B: 83, 81
C: 76, 72

Sembawang Symphonic Winds
A: 69, 75
B: 78, 85
C: 80, 85

Old Boys Old Girls
A: 82, 84
B: 82, 83
C: 83, 85

Maris Stella Alumni
A: 74, 75
B: 81, 86
C: 82, 88

Saints Alumni
A: 72, 75
B: 74, 80
C: 83, 86

Marsiling Winds
A: 67, 77
B: 74, 78
C: 72, 76

Meridien Junior College
A: 84, 83
B: 78, 85
C: 88, 86

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Everyone open your eyes and you will undertand what have actually happened. I do not need or wish to say things.

I am not going to make anything emotional down here, I felt it is useless to do anything now, What has done has been done.

AT LEAST for now, I know how mssba "died" in this 2nd National Band Competition.

Glad that there are still justice around.

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Just hope that Certain PPL should just stop hurting my band and band members! thank you very much.

fredy chia
maris stella symphonic band alumni
~the legacy continues~

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Honours Band In Concert

All mssbalumni members,

Please take note that we have been invited by the NBC organization to perform in the Honours Band Concert on 19th July 2008, Saturday.

We will be the last band of the night, around 930.

Everyone please PUT UP A GOOD SHOW!!!!

Let's ROCK the Victoria Concert Hall on 19th July 2008!!

mssbalumni GO GO!

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fredy chia
maris stella symphonic band alumni
~the legacy continues~

The 2nd National Band Competition Results!

All mssbalumni members,

This is the first post by me AFTER the 2nd NBC on 13th July 2008, Sunday.

I shall voice out my most honest opinion and thoughts about this competition without any reserve. I know there are something that I know I shouldn't say as a leader of the band but you all should know me well enough that I am very straightforward person, I don't like to hide or do small little tricks behind people.

2nd National Band Competition.

Yesh. It is over and we all performed really well. Really well, the performance was so great that I would DARE TO SAY it is our BEST performance so far. I have NEVER heard mssba in this kind of standard and as well as sound in any performance before. We are seriously moving a step forward to Lin Sheng's sound. You all really sound round and nice on that day. Intonation was really good and has little problems (there were slight problems but overall was really ok).

I am really happy to see mssbalumni improved SO MUCH within a week, with the ONLY FULL BAND practice on the competition day itself (yesh, on the stage when we were UP THERE PERFORMING!), it is rather unbelievable that we can achieve and play that well. I am surprised and at the same time, VERY HAPPY!

We have gotten a Gold Award for the 2nd National Band Competition. WOW! good job for everyone. a GOLD!!! aren't you all happy? sorry I am not. Actually I shouldn't state the the Medal I should just state the Points.. 81% for what we have played. I am not happy. It is a gold award I know... and It is good we have gotten a Gold but I am just unhappy about the 81%.

We only have 81% for what we have played on Sunday. I am truly sorry, I know I shouldn't say this BUT I am going to be HONEST.

WE WORTH MORE THAN JUST 81%!

* To those who wants to flame me.. PLEASE TAKE NOTE I AM NOT STATING WE ARE BETTER OR LOUSIER THAN ANY BANDS. I am just purely stating we worth more than 81%.

** To EVERYONE: I am not overly confident and think we can achieve Gold with Distinction. I am not aiming at that in the first place. We have gotten a gold and I am contented, but I am just purely expecting a higher % gold. Why? Cause I am overly confident? NO! Apparently, audience comments and reactions plus recording shows we worth a higher percentage. Even though we might not be up to Gold with Distinction standard but there is SOMETHING I can be sure of... WE SERIOUSLY WORTH MORE THAN JUST 81%.

All of us have heard our recording. We all know we deserved more than 81%, we all know that. Actually I should rephrased it like... we already know we have done our best on the very day on stage. We have given our very best. Everyone did.

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I would like to thank ALL MEMBERS for putting in so much efforts in making the 2nd National Band Competition performance such a wonderful one. We have already achieved what we have wanted. We also have received the very best comments from Lin Sheng and Mr Chiang. We really did well. Personally, I think we have done our best, even though there were unstable tempo but overall we really have played well. As you all know, I HARDLY PRAISED our playing, this time round, I am! This is NO KIDDING, I have never thought mssbalumni can actually sound that good!

I guess we seriously stand the chance for achieving better results, if not there weren't be some little "movements" by "mover" even before we got a chance to stand on stage.

I am perfectly fine and happy with our performances (both march and hymn). We can't please everyone but at least we have pleased majority of the audience in the hall. So what if the 3 judges were not pleased by our playing? We have at least proved to ourselves that we have touched certain people's heart with our performance.

As long as there is a person that is moved by our performance, we should be happy and cherish that moment. It is NOT EASY to bring out the emotions and message in music, it is not easy to be able to play and sing with such beautiful and warm sound at the same time. We did well. We really DID!

mssbalumni members, believe in mssbalumni!

we really have performed well. If we are not appreciated by some people let's be it, we shall slowly prove it to those people.

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We still have SIBF to go. It is not easy to get into the Open Division of the SIBF and the competitors for SIBF are really VERY VERY STRONG! So we must work even harder!

mssbalumni is not a band that can be "knocked down" that easily!

Let's us Jia You together!

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For those non mssbalumni members, you all can comment and flame me and say I am a pure sore loser or over confident or whatsoever. I don't mind, you all can say what you all want. I am this confident because I believe in my band, my music director, Lin Sheng, my conductor, Mr Chiang and all my members who are a bunch of great and fantastic music makers! One more thing, I believe in the music we produce as a band. The bonding, the sound and the people we have impressed and touched by our performance on 13th July. I am just purely believing in all these! We just own the "attitude" for producing music with emotions!

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mssbalumni just ROCKS!!!

SIBF here we come!!!!!!!!!!!

--

fredy chia
maris stella symphonic band alumni
~the legacy continues~

Saturday, July 12, 2008

The moment before 2nd NBC

Dear All,

Now is the start of Saturday...

That means we are 1 day before our NBC competition day. A day that we have been working towards. This time round we are in a division where all the good bands are in. A division that has stronger competitors, the Open division.

We managed to clinch a Gold Award and Top band position in the last NBC. That was something we have achieved in the past.

For now...

To achieve something in Open Division is not an easy thing. I believe all of us know that. Up till now we have yet to have a single FULL band which is a fact that all of you know... but I don't think we should just stop there and wait for everyone to appear and have full band.

We should just work on our own parts till it is as perfect as possible. We do not need to wait for full band to clear up those mistakes that we have now during those precious full band time.

For now, I guess majority of us are working very hard to clear up all our problems as much as possible, I know a lot of people are trying very hard. You people are doing fine. Seriously.

Those who have yet to clear up the mistakes, we still have 1 day... yesh 1 day to work on those mistakes.

I hope everyone will give their VERY BEST in practicing their part in the last pract that will happen in the afternoon. This will be our last pract before the competition on Sunday. It is very precious and I hope everyone will be focusing on their parts.

We don't have any more time to waste. So let's FOCUS!!

Our main objective for this competition is to bring out the Music written by the Composer. Bring out the emotion, bring out the message the composer wants to convey, bring out the Music to everyone in the audience.

Let everyone knows that Maris Stella Symphonic Band Alumni is a band that is capable of playing music with emotions and music that touches people's hearts.

I believe in everyone in the Maris Stella Symphonic Band Alumni... I trust every single one of you... you all will seriously create miracle and let this legacy continues.

Thank you for all the efforts you all have done for these few weeks, it has been a good job for everyone trying to come down for practice. Really appreciate everyone's efforts!!

This very last day before NBC...

Let's practice hard and focus!

Let's us work hard and give our best on Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's aim to move everyone to tears with our music on 13th July 2008!!!

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JIA YOU!! mssbalumni!!!

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fredy chia
maris stella symphonic band alumni
~the legacy continues~

Friday, June 06, 2008

NBC and SIBF

All Alumni Band Members,

Please take note of the following competition dates. Please make sure those dates are free.

13th July 2008 - 2nd National Band Competition

24th July 2008 - Singapore International Band Competition

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Performance Order of 2nd National Band Competition (OPEN division)

1. Chung Cheng High (Yishun)


2. SMU Symphonia


3. Anderson Junior College


4. Combined ITE Band


5. Fajar Symphonic Band


6. Sembawang Winds


~INTERVAL~


7. Old Boys Old Girls Wind Symphony


8. Maris Stella Symphonic Band Alumni


9. Saints Alumni


10. Marsiling Winds


11. Meridien Junior College


12. Zheng Hua Symphonic Band

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We only have 1 month left. So everyone, please buck up and play well!

ALSO take note that if you are absent from practice, please kindly inform and give your SL or EXCO a valid reason for your absence. thank you very much.

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fredy
maris stella symphonic band alumni
~the legacy continues~

Friday, May 02, 2008

Competitions + Concert Master

Dear All Alumni Band members,

There are a few things that I would like to announce down here.

1. Concert Master

After discussion with Mr Chiang and the rest of the Committee regarding music issue. We think it is vital to have a Concert Master for alumni band. Concert Master will be in charge of the band's tuning, conduct warm ups and of course music related matters of the band. We have finalized on the candidate, of course we all think he does have the ability to be a concert master (just nice he is on the 1st seat). So...

Maris Stella Symphonic Band Alumni Concert Master: Stanley.

So let's welcome Stanley to our alumni band music dept!

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2. Competitions

ALL alumni band members please take note that we have passed the audition for the SIBF competition and we are 1 of the 7 only bands that managed to passed the audition for OPEN division. This is a very tough competition since we have all the good bands from both local and overseas, I seriously think ALL members will need to work very hard for this competition.

We are also in the OPEN division for NBC. This Competition is not easy too.

I hope ALL alumni members will give us your full co-operation from now on.

WE ONLY HAVE 14 PRACTICES LEFT!

I guess everyone in the band knows how bad we are. I hope everyone can buck up abit, come for practice and at the same time have sectional with your very own section.

Lin sheng wants ALL alumni members to come back and fight till the end for these competitions.

I sincerely hope that everyone will give your utmost co-operation in this matter.

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WE hope ALL MEMBERS will be polite enough to inform and provide us with valid reason for absence from practice from now on. I guess we need to get all the discipline right. Each and everyone of the member of this alumni band is important to us. When one person missed a pract, we would have already missed a part. I hope those people that missed pract on purpose will really think of others in the band too. You and us spend as much time in this band, why there are so many of us can actually come down for practice and you can't? Please spare a thought for those members who come every single time.

Band is all about TEAMWORK.

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PS: Main Band Concert Recording link WILL BE POSTED in these few days.

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Fredy
maris stella symphonic band alumni
~the legacy continues~

Monday, March 03, 2008

15th April 2008 - Esplanade Concert

Dear All Alumni Band Members,

I have 2 things for today's update. One from Mr. Chiang and one from me.

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Message from Mr. Chiang to ALL alumni band members.

As everyone knows that the Esplanade Concert will be in 1.5 months time. Mr Chiang hopes ALL Alumni members to come back to have sectionals with the Main Band during Saturday Mornings whenever you can (whether it is wednesday, friday or saturday).

Schedule as follows till the concert:

8 - 10.30 >> Sectionals
10.30 - 1 >> Full Band + Recruit band



Just to update all alumni band members: The Band does not get much support from the school (you all know what I mean) I am sure no one wants to seethe Main Band's standard going down the hill as time goes by. Hence we hope that everyone can come back to help out whenever they can.

We need more Alumni Members to come back and guide the juniors along during this period of time.

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Message from me to ALL ALUMNI BAND MEMBERS.

We have 6 practices left to the Esplanade Concert.

I seriously hope that ALL MEMBERS will give us their fullest co-operation and attend ALL PRACTICES FROM NOW ON!

I think NOBODY in this band wants to perform badly and throw your own face and risking this alumni band standard in front of 1600 audience?

I PERSONALLY DO NOT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. I GUESS ALOT OF OTHER MEMBERS DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN TOO!

To those who have been coming for practice, Thank you very much BUT can we start punctually from now on? Everytime we said start at 2 but majority of you come late! Now, can all of us just come punctually and start punctually?? We have ALOT of things to work on. Please don't waste the time of those ppl who come punctually. Thank you.

TO THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN COMING FOR PRACTICE. I guess you all should have the RESPONSIBILITY to think for this band and your own performance. I guess NONE of you are professionals that can sight read and play well immediately. EVEN Professionals don't just play after once or twice sight reading session. To those who have been giving us reasons for unable to attend, thank you very much and we do understand BUT for those who have NOT BEEN GIVING US ANY REASONS and NOT COMING for practice. I urge you to START coming down for practice from this week onwards. You ONLY have 6 practices left.

Let me repeat myself, 6 MORE PRACTICES LEFT!

Unless you have a DEGREE in whatever instruments you are playing now, IF NOT, I guess you aren't able to play well without having practice.

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Just to Update on the Esplanade Concert.

Maris Stella High School
~presents~
50th Anniversary Concert
15th April 2008 (Tuesday)
Time; 1930 hours

Ticket price: $15 and $20 (for circle), Stall STILL unconfirmed.

ALL TICKETS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM ALL SISTIC OUTLETS!

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I will inform all Alumni band members on the schedule for that day in this upcoming practice.

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fredy