Sunburnt on Tuesday, March 13, 2007
I am so so excited becoz my choir is singing a HOKKIEN song for the competition at Pattaya..
We are singing that hokkien song for the FOLKLORE category!
It's called Yu Ye Hua...Blossoming of flowers in the night rain... Yea..cool.
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Sunburnt on Monday, March 12, 2007
Hmm got 32 for my probability test, out of a total of 50 marks. I think i should be contented ba...even though it's below the average mean which is 35.
Today is another choir practice day and we are learning 2 new songs, namely What a wonderful world as well as Day and Night.
What a wonderful world obviously many of you all have heard about it and had been covered by alot of singers. I think the original singer was Louis Armstrong if i am not wrong...
I would love to hear this song sung by a choir...wonder how it will sound like...
Hey ppl, if you want the music cd for the concert do let me know ok? The cd is jus a recording of that evening's concert. =)
Nick was out in the sun at
Sunburnt on Saturday, March 10, 2007
I am so freaking pissed!
Come back home, relaxing, watching my fav american idol...and then i have to wash the dishes..etc. My brother who is supposedly the last one who finish the dinner, refuse to wash the dishes. I am utterly fed up doing all this for him. I am so freaking tired. My second brother who had jus come back from field camp, also went to wash and dry all our clothes. That idiot, youngest brother, happily talk to his gf over the phone. Trust me, i knew when he is talking with his gf.
I have my temper alright? Not always a mr nice guy especially ppl are testing my patience when i am so tired Ugh.
I was telling linda jus now that i almost wanted to bring those dirty dishes to my brother's bed. I really seriously almost did that.
Sometimes i really want to know what he is thinking. Even if i have a gf, i won't talk with her everyday. I mean ....seriously everyday...wat can u talk about.?
gf: Hey eat already?
me: ya.
me: you?
gf: ya.
me:ok.
me: wat are u doing?
gf:talking to you.
me: ok.
gf: hmmm
me: ya..
Anger is never good. I was praying to God to take it away from me. Shout to the Lord..yes it will help :>
Nick was out in the sun at
Sunburnt on Friday, March 09, 2007
Yes...my friends took a snap shot of me and i jus so happen to grimace...so yea..haha These are jus a preview of the pictures during Varsity Voices...i regretted never take pictures on that day...but i am waiting for those nice pics to be out! U know i am always mentally prepared for any slight discrimination...and it was so fast that i started to hear that there is this guy in choir who had been spreading rumours about me..and yada yada..etc I am supposed to be sharing bed with 2 seniors for the PATTAYA competition who had last minute left me out without informing me :( "why didn't you ask them?" was the most common question that my frens had asked me. I mean since they had already found in all 4 persons in a room.. what's the point of me still asking? So in the end i am left sharing with 2 guys, one of them was the one had been gossiping behind my back. Frankly speaking, gossiping and rumors don't reallly affect me...wat affect me is the fact that this "friend" was supposed to be a newbie , same as me, and also a fren to me. While conversing with him, he seemed fine and jovial. I was pretty oblivious to the stuff he is spreading to ppl, until a gal fren came to tell me to back off from him. Oh well..i never want to get involve with politics. I mean sing to live and live to sing.. I mean though at times, i feeel left out as a newbie...but i do have my own friends in the choir..friends whom i can easily chat with. I mean i am quite an easy-going guy, so if you choose to put on an air, and refuse to open up while i try to make friends with you, then never mind lor. Or worst still, if you choose to stigmatize me coz of my singing, then sorry, since when do singing become a critierion for friendship? =) HUMILITY, CONSIDERATION for others, DILIGENCE, and PRAYERS are all i need to stay alive in any kind of social interaction.
Nick was out in the sun at
Sunburnt on Thursday, March 08, 2007
Ha ya..now i realized how easy it is for someone to search for any blog with the desired keyword you enter.
Yes the nus choir forum is jammed packed with messages, messages of congratulations, thanks, appraisals, tease...etc. All of us have started to miss the concert, inevitably developing a post-concert depression. It's time for us to go back to our studies, back to mugging, back to projects (that's for me). This coming thursday(which is later), we are having a post-concert celebration and all of us are seriously looking forward to it.
The concert was simply breath-taking and one that i would never forget. Thanks to all my lovely friends who had attended the concert despite their packed schedule. Sorry that i couldn't take pictures with you guys..not much time..
Big thanks to Zixian and Angel who had come despite Angel's lousy mood(from her blog) and also despite Zixian strong antichrist sentiments. No doubt, i am glad they did enjoy the concert! Oh ya also to my brother Jim who came down even though he need to rush back to camp at Kranji straight after that. Thank you to Joanna Pearly, Iqbal,Zechou, my uni mates who had come down for a great evening of visual and auditory stimulation. =)
Thank you to my ex colleague, Zhou and his wife who had come down, thank you to Travis and his fren, Andrew and his fren, Alvin and his fren,....etc
Once the pictures are out, i will post it here!
The gals were gorgeous that night, and i was one lucky guy to be surrounded by them, standing in such a conspicuous position that my frens had no trouble at all in finding where i stand in the choir.
"why is there a guy standing among the girls" ...usual question that my frens were being asked upon. Ya...oh well..
I love you all sopranos, you gals did well that night!!!!!!
Nick was out in the sun at
Sunburnt on Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Monday.. choir till 930pm
Tuesday tuition till 9pm
Wednesday no lesson
Thursday choir till 930pm
Friday lesson end at 6pm
Saturday bp mentoring at 9am, tuition at 2-4pm.
Sunday church at 1130am-130pm
Ya i know it's jammed packed...and alot of priorities ought to be sorted out. Eventually i know that i would have to pull out from Bp mentoring.
I am very very appreciatve from the bottom of my heart to those who had supported the nus choir.. I know that using the fact that i am singing soprano as publicity is pretty lame..but it's a good try haha.
To those well wishes from friends, thank you too. Thank you for your quick responses in confirming as well as prompt reply.
NUS choir may not be the best choir..but they showcase a bunch of young ppl who had to continuously balance studies and practices all in the name of MUSIC. This is the first time i sing until my back aches...ever since my sectional leader urges me to breathe through stomach and not chest. Never hear of that in my life before haha.
Also...i used to hear of how ppl train themeslves to make their tongue relax enough to open up the throat more. I heard of friends who put oreo cookie and place them at the back of the tongue...and that will be the correct position of the tongue. In nus choir, my sectional leader teach me to yawn. WHen we yawn, our jaw automatically relaxes and the tongue automatically go back to its relaxed position and the throat is opened up more.
Also..by feeling for the vibration on the back of my neck... my voice coach teaches us how to find our REAL singing voice..and to my expectation..my original falsetto range is in ALTO. As i go for soprano notes...the vibration at the back of my neck is no longer there..and would have to work on it to produce that gentle vibration.
Indeed...the main reason why i wanted to join choir is to learn these interesting singing techniques....and also thank God for those nice christian songs. At least it mean singing out of conviction rather than solely music alone..
The next thing to look foward to is in fact the choir competition in thailand pattaya :>
Nick was out in the sun at
Sunburnt on Wednesday, February 07, 2007
CLICK ON IT TO ENLARGE THE POSTER
Hey ppl...ya even have to promote it on my blog. I have to sell merely 7 tickets only. Would love to sell more...so if you are interested gimme a ring alright? or email me at mightymousenick@gmail.com
Varsity Voices '07 - MUSICA SACRA
The highly acclaimed Varsity Voices concert series will be back on 4 March 2007, with promise of more exciting and vibrant repertoire!
Conducted by esteemed choral director Nelson Kwei, the NUS Choir proudly presents Varsity Voices 2007: Musica Sacra, an evening of divine melodies and sacred music, a testimony of the Choir's continuous musical exploration of a diverse and exciting genre.Varsity Voices promises an enjoyable and uplifting evening as the NUS Choir presents a repertoire of sacred music that spans centuries and continents. The first half will feature classical pieces such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Missa Brevis (Sparrow Mass), reminiscent of sprightly sparrow chirpings, and Franz Joseph Haydn's festively grand and symphonic Te Deum, a combined item with award-winning guest choir, The Vocal Consort. The second half will feature sacred pieces by contemporary composers such as Vajda Janos and Ralph Hoffman, demonstrating musical colour through the use of dissonance. The Choir will also perform a collection of upbeat African-American spirituals arranged by Moses Hogan. These spirituals, borne out of the hardships of servitude and slavery, reflect a poignant optimism and reliance on the divine, through emotive rhythms and catchy melodies. Come and join us in an evening that promises to uplift your spirit and charm your soul.
Date: Sunday, 4 March '07Time: 7.30pmVenue: University Cultural Centre Hall.
Ticket Information : Tickets are priced at $13 (inclusive of SISTIC charges) and are available now at all SISTIC outlets, SISTIC Hotline: (65) 6348 5555.You can also purchase your ticket electronically through SISTIC website: http://www.sistic.com.sg/cms/events/index.html?content=635
Nick was out in the sun at
Sunburnt on Saturday, January 27, 2007
Today went down to the tailor at Chinatown to have our measurements made. Hmm this was the first time i am getting a tailor made suit and pants for myself. Hmm 80 bucks for a black suit and a pants i think is quite reasonable, considering a suit in G2000 on offer cost 69(without pants of coz). So ya.. the uncle told me my waist for 27.5 and i told him that i want it 28..if not suffocating sia.
So i went with Bryan, the filipino and Hong Juen, the msian. NUS choir is really an international choir per se. I have known one African American, Canadian, Flipino, Msians, Indonesians and Spain. Interesting. What a cultural exchange it is.
So after the measurement we decide to walk around and so i jus bring them around chinatown, eating at some stall. I wanted to find this famous porridge stall...but i jus couldn't find it :(
So ya another saturday, back to mugging. Yes i know it's a saturday. But this semester i have 3 group projects in all they could have taken my breath away literally. Quality engine had thus far been the easiest to cope compared to the rest. Engine Econs..is another one big mathematically demanding module. Software engine is a bit abstract and theoretical...but hopefull the drawings and stuff will get me moving..
Nothing exciting for the modules these sem but i know this sem could be one of the worst semester to cope for my 4 years, as told by seniors. Oh well.
2 tuitions and i am coping fine. My dear source of allowance is from there. So thank GOd for the lobang.
Sigh...was having a conversation with a city harvest gal on my way back from choir practice. This fren of mine is still in jc, but she came to nus choir on the basis that she can get into nus using nus choir as the appealing factor. First of all, she gives me the impression as being boisterous. Second i feel old talking to her, coz she is 19. Third, she is from city harvest, and when i told her that i am also christian, she started to tell me things that only city harvest church-goers will atypically say. "Touch of God's power, Dreams and apparitions, Pray for good results, pray to get into NUS...etc" Hope i don't sound as if i am bad-mouthing or wat, but i am jus hoping that Church these days can teach proper doctrines. What you pray can be what you are before the Lord. Ok may be i should quote something that she had said which personally i don't find it offensive..but find it uncomfortable.
We were talking with a canadian chinese fren who had jus come to singapore for the first time.
That city harvest gal started to tell her " Wa, you know ah, Nick is from vjc u know, smart ass lar he, go and kiss his ass".
First and foremost, at our age, WHO WILL COMPARE JC to JC>??? Then again, may be coz she had jus finished her A level, i don't blame her. But the kiss the ass part...i feel embarrassed for that canadian gal. Coz weirdness is written all over her face. Sigh.
Where has all the demure, quiet, meek and gentle gals go to?
Nick was out in the sun at
Sunburnt on Sunday, January 21, 2007
Ok so i am in NUS choir.. jus in case any of you do not know. Ya...i am thrilled to finally be in my own niche, singing as a countertenor. I trust that people aplenty are not sure what exactly a countertenor is..
Actually i am not too sure why the "counter" there. But countertenors are simple males who sing high in their falsetto. David Daniels and Andreas Scholls are two of my idols who have quite a different way of delivering their falsetto.
Remember the CHICAGO movie starring Catherine zeta jones? I was told by a german fren that in the original stage musical, there was this role that was sung by a countertenor. The role was a reporter and this was of coz taken over by a lady in the movie. I thought this was interesting.
When i went for audition, i sang Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, a piece from the Phantom. Not really a very high song and eventually manage to pull it off..even as i off pitch for one note. After that was the normal piano scaling. So the student conductor was testing my range and stuff..etc.
The day i went for the first practice...i never imagine that they will put me in Soprano 2. I thought perhaps they will mercilessly put me in TENOR...which i think i will faint. I am quite happy yet uncertain about being in Soprano 2. Goodness gracious and thank God i am not in Soprano 1..which is lagi higher.
So there i went to the CFA studio opposite YIH. So as i stand close to my sectional leader, Xuefang..one gal came forward and told me, "hey guys stand over the other side" , pointing to the tenors' section. My sectional leader told her i am singing soprano. She was like "ohhh..." with bewilderment written all over her face.
Deep inside my heart i was praying to God that, i mean since u give me this gift..i should be able to go past the stigma of being the only countertenor inside nus choir?
So ppl were pretty curious of me..like some exotic animal from some exotic island.
Yes indeed as i sing some of the songs...i was trying my very best to side read the notes..and follow the student conductor. Off pitch was a certainty coz it was the first time i have seen those songs..
To be frank, those songs were in foreign language..and may be coz i am used to listening to classical songs..they became less difficult to grasp (not trying to be boastful here) The only difficult part is the some of the really high notes... which is why i make it a point to have 2 water bottles with me. I was told by a fren to stay away from caffeine, milk before practice too..
The interesting about being in a place with music lovers is that..none of the guys there actually got turn off by my singing...they became appreciative of it.. So..ya. GOod lar. No more discrimination. =)
So July i am going Thailand Pattaya for International choir competition. =o
So here i am..in nus choir..singing soprano..
Nick was out in the sun at
Sunburnt on Sunday, January 07, 2007
Ok first of all i want to thank Angel, Zixian, Guojun and of coz Sini, a special guest for friday's treat.First it was the 2-7pm KTV. Was elated that they have the Sodagreen song right there in Kbox. The most suprising thing was that they Think of Me from Phantom in there ha ha, as well as I dream a dream from Le Miserables. How come i never realise that?Zixian sang quite alright in some of his favorite songs by Weilan and coz the One Night in Beijing.. One night in Beijing was one of those few songs i had used my original voice to sing and Zixian on the other hand use his falsetto ha ha.I like the ambience in Ma Maison very very much. With the free slice of cheesecake and the free polaroid photo, everything is just so nice about that place. So a big THANK YOU to Sini.. =)So right after the meal we headed to the TANG SHUI place for dessert along one of those alley streets behind Bugis Junction. I have to tell a lie to Angel that i want to go toilet when i actually went to pay the bill. Cannot lar, they pay the ktv and the meal.. (though the dessert was not alot) =)My second brother bought me Gwen Stefani and Justin Timberlake's new album . Yeah!My little brother bought me...Gwen Stefani too..but in the end we went to change to Scissorsisters and Whitney Houston. =)
Nick was out in the sun at
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