Join the Philharmonic Youth Winds in their annual concert as they present a programme that is both extremely challenging and emotionally stirring.

Led by Resident Conductor Adrian Chiang, the 80-piece wind orchestra will kickstart the concert with Tchaikovsky’s Marche Slave, Op. 31.

Local clarinettists, Desmond Chow and Liang Jiayi, both from The Philharmonic Winds, will take centrestage as they are accompanied by the Youths in Mendelssohn’s Concert Piece No. 2, Op. 114, transcribed for Two Clarinets and Wind Orchestra.

Johan De Meij’s Extreme Make-over will dazzle with its series of musical metamorphoses based on a theme from Tchaikovsky’s well-known Andante Cantabile from the second movement of his String Quartet No. 1 in D, Op. 11.

To end off the concert, the Philharmonic Youth Winds will perform James Barnes' emotionally stirring Third Symphony “The Tragic”, which was written during the period between the death of his infant child Natalie and the birth of his son Billy, a journey from darkness to light.


Show us your support. Contact me for tickets.

See you at the concert!
Cheers!

- Khai

Someone's not updating his blog, again.
*Looks at the mirror*

Cityscapes - Postcard pictures painted in sound

Expect an aural journey through different cities, modern and ancient, seen through the eyes of top wind composers in this accessible and exciting concert.

Led by Thai conductor Surapol Thanyawibool, one of Asia's most respected experts in wind music, The Philharmonic Winds will perform works like Adam Gorb's Midnight in Buenos Aires, which portrays the combination of darkness, violence, mystery and seductive passion that is intrinsic to tango, Argentina's national dance.

Fall in love with the capital of romance in Martin Ellerby's Paris Sketches, a four-movement work that depicts aspects of the city - from the bohemian Saint-Germain-des-Prés to Père Lachaise, one of the most famous cemeteries in the world.

The Philharmonic Winds' guest for the evening, Nontri Orchestra Wind, will present works under Thanyawibool's direction, including an original Thai composition. The wind orchestra, comprising music graduates of Bangkok's Kasetsart University and other professional musicians, will join the hosts to perform Satoshi Yagisawa's Machu Picchu, a gorgeous symphonic work reminiscent of a film score depicting the grandeur of "The Lost City of the Incas".

Tickets are at $15, $20, $25, $35, $50.
Available at all SISTIC authorised agents.

For more information, visit any one of the links:-
SISTICS
Website of The Philharmonic Winds

Or alternatively, if you're interested to attend, you may contact me via any means possible (MSN, Facebook, mobile phone, e-mail).


Hope to have your support.
See you on the concert day!

Before I proceed on with a decent entry, just to provide a disclaimer that what I am about to type is exactly what's on my mind. Not ALL of it, but whatever that appears first. It might will be a messy entry.

So finally, I managed to have a breather. But rest assured it won't be long before I get back on my feet and tire myself out all over again. The semester break sinked in approximately two weeks ago, and since then, I've never had proper rest. Not that I have holiday assignments to finish up, or complex projects that are brought forward from the previous semester, but if you're me, holidays simply means the opposite. Many would probably be nodding their head, agreeing to that statement.

What is exactly in store for me this holidays?

I have three performances coming up and prior to any performance, there are of course rehearsals. My weekends alone are jam-packed with rehearsals. And most of the time, I have two rehearsals over a span of 8 hours in one day alone! Hardcore eh? Haha! Nah, don't worry. I'll publicise the concerts in my blog when it is nearing. In fact, I'm gonna "advertise" one of it after I am done with this entry. So stay tuned cos I will be updating my dear blog often from now on (I mean it this time round). Haha!

December is probably one of the hottest months for any performance. Following which, the month of June. So it kinda came to me as no surprise that I will be involved in some of them. My school holidays are usually dedicated to music-making. NOT that I am complaining, but it is the best time for me to be a performer and make music for others.

Moving on....

I am also caught up with designing publicity materials and the concert booklet for one of the performances I will be performing in [Philharmonic Youth Wind's Classiques (EXTREME)]. With exhaustion and fatigue, my creative juices ain't flowing at all. But looking on the bright side, I already have the layout and design in mind. Just need to work it and do my "magic". Haha! Hoping that I could clear at least the posters etc by the end of the week. Gonna start doing wonders all over again - sitting long hours in front of the desktop (including the inevitable distractions that are widely available on the net) and going to sleep when the sun is rising.

Work has also been occupying whatever free time I am left with. And holidays are the best time for me to earn extra. Earning extra mean long hours of work. Since the start of my holidays, the longest I have worked in one day was 13 hours. And surprisingly, I survived. But trust me, the fatigue after punching out from work is overwhelming, and being able to sit down on a chair was incredible rewarding. I have been given specific responsibilities at work and I am thankful to my managers for believing in me. THAT, I'll leave it for another entry.


Therefore, my holidays gonna revolve around music-making, attending rehearsals, designing, teaching, providing excellent service at work, driving lessons and catching up with buddies. Which I am all looking forward to. It sure sounds like I am complaining, but honestly I am not. I don't complain a lot to be honest. Well, looking forward to all the activities lined up for me. And not forgetting, one of it is to update my blog often. *grins*

Ciao!

I know I know.
Soon :)

Reason: Shagged

This is it. The start of my semester exams.
Last paper on the 13th so do expect an update.
An update on the things I will spend my holidays doing.
Haha!

Till then,
Ciao!

Let me be honest.
I have really lost the muse to blog.

Exams are approaching.
HOPING to get on with thorough revision like SOON.
Final semester projects are coming right at me like a speed train.
Other outside commitments are slowly coming alive from my monthly planner.
(Yes, I am rather organized when it comes to dates)
Not THAT kind of dates. Haha!

And I have thought of changing my blogskin to something simple.
With all that in mind, I am not motivated at all to do proper entries.

So till then, till my exams are officially over,
I'm gonna leave this blog on hiatus.

If you occasionally see me once or twice updating this blog, consider yourself lucky.
Ironically, I am active on Facebook.

Aiya! Got my number? Call or SMS lah!
Maybe can arrange for some meet-up over a cup of coffee. Ceh!
KEYWORD: Maybe
Yet again, no harm trying.

CHEERS!

Initially, I wanted to do a proper entry. But when my eyeballs looked at the bottom right corner of the monitor screen, I realised that the time isn't doing any justice. Plus, I'm exhausted from the random outing with the normal peeps over at the other side of Singapore - Boon Lay! Man, that place has changed a lot since the last time I went there.

So anyway, in replacement of a supposed entry, which is long due, I will basically be putting up videos from Youtube (where else?!) that caught my eye. And maybe perhaps a short entry with interesting pictures I found while blog-hopping (which reminds me, I really need to explain to people what my definition of "blog-hopping" is).

So, the video of the day shall be by the name mentioned in the title of this entry. Mr "however-you-pronounce-that". Haha!


This video makes me wanna learn the guitar and learn this style of playing. Rather than those typical mats who would sit at void decks screaming the only one song they know. Haha!

And wait . . . . . . .

Doesn't Mr "however-you-pronounce-that" looks like....

In future, when I feel like giving up, I will promise to watch this video.
And this should be an inspiration to those who are having their majors soon.
Hope it helps.

Cheers!

P/s: I'm so dead. Gotta wake up early and I'm still awake at 3am. Best.

Alright, I think it is best if I be polite and update a little. I should really get out of the habit of updating once each week. It is unhealthy isn't it? Oh boy, what have I got myself into. There are just too many things to update. Ok lah, I should pick the one that is more prominent in my brain cells - Hari Raya.

Hmmmm, I must say that during the fasting month (which I must add went passed in a blink of an eye), the anticipation was pretty much at zero level. But as Hari Raya neared, with all those good work-outs (painting the house) and making our place look nice, the mood began sinking in. And I must highlight that it felt good. The mood is still there. Can you imagine if one day Hari Raya feels like just an ordinary day?

Part of me was thankful. Parents decided not to visit our house at Malacca. With all those dishes Mom cooked for our last Iftar - it was awesome! I seriously can't imagine waking up in the morning of Hari Raya to see Maggie Mee on the table.

Anyway, the 'malam raya' (the night before Hari Raya), headed to Thomson because Mom wanted to get fresh flowers. I helped Mom picked and she allowed me to arrange the flowers in one of the vases. Haha! I know it sounds a little sissy but I enjoyed doing it. I show you? Heh....



Then headed to Geylang - Mom wanted to get curtains for our living room. By then, I felt so sick; as in unwell. With all the people flocking down to do their last minute shopping, bloody hell. I wonder how can they survive the pushing. I hate it especially when there are ignorant smokers who would smoke in such a crowded place. I was literally holding my breath just so I won't be a prime victim of being a passive smoker.

Got home close to 1AM and stayed up till like 4AM to finish up clearing the stuffs, and make last minute decor improvements. I will stop here for now and continue on with Hari Raya itself in another entry. Don't wanna get carried away and turn this entry into a bore. Heh.

Ciao!

You walked with me
Footprints in the sand
And helped me understand
Where I'm going

You walked with me
When I was all alone
With so much unknown
Along the way
Then I heard you say

Chorus
I promise you
I'm always there
When your heart is filled with sorrow and despair
I'll carry you
When you need a friend
You'll find my footprints in the sand

I see my life
Flash across the sky
So many times have I
Been so afraid

And just when I
I thought I'd lost my way
You gave me strength to carry on
That's when I heard you say

Chorus

When I'm weary
I know you'll be there
And I can feel you
When you say

When life starts to go against you,
feeling like there is no way that you could live another day,
please save the following video -
to constantly remind ourselves how cute life can be sometimes.
And that all we need is someone to cheer you up.

Disclaimer: Semi-nudity :P



Credits to my elder brother, Dane for sharing this at 5:45AM.
I laughed so loud that I feel so wide awake right now.

Well anyway, gonna "roll" and hope the cold floor would lure me to Lala-land. Haha!
Food for thought: Why is it called Lala-land anyway?

Ciao!

I got knocked off from school a little too early on Monday. Knowing that I had time to kill before heading down to Simpang Bedok for the Iftar gathering, I decided to meet up with some of them. The girls (Fidah & Nina) had some random sudden urges to visit IKEA to survey prices (or was it something else?), together with Fauzi and Izzat.


While I had my eyes washed with so many inspirational items up for sale, I stumbled upon this DYI cardboard box that comes with a lid. Believe it or not, it cost only 90 cents per box. I have always needed proper storage spaces - as in a place to store my past textbooks, notes or whatever that I wish to keep for future use (I hope).

It was rather large. So I think I will drag my parents down for easier transportation. Nope, I did not buy them. Haha! BUT SOON!

Walked about and I guess hunger was taking its toll. All of us were tired if not, famished.

Headed towards Simpang Bedok (SB) to meet the others for the Iftar session. Well, it was suppose to be an alumni gathering but apparently, the usual group of us turned up - none other but truly famous people: KBBG.

Had a fair share of laughs and exchanging of quirky but cute remarks. Oh, and not forgetting the usual mini Cornettos for dessert. Definitely, it has always been so warm to be just around these wonderful people. Feeling comfortable even if by means of insulting or throwing indirect sarcasms across tables. All in all, I would not trade any one of those precious memories for anything else in this world. Well, if I had the most delicious chocolate bar that can make me go higher than cloud nine, then perhaps yes. Hahaha! Kidding!


Spent quite a bit there and decided to trail down (by bus while some fortunate group got to hitchhiked on Aminoor's car) towards Tampines - we apparently had some weird cravings for J.CO Donuts.

Upon reaching, went to look for the girls (Yup, the group guilty of taking Aminoor's car) and I got a rude shock. Haha! They planned an advance birthday surprise for Izzat. It came to me as a surprise too. Matter of fact, I was wondering why I could hear them singing the birthday song when none of ours falls on that day. Well, not till I took my mobile out and saw two text messages from Fauzi saying that the girls are planning something. The wrong person got surprised - ME! Slow aye. Oh well.

All of us got ourselves fork and spoons and one by one we start to dig into the cake, literally! We got too lazy to cut the cake evenly, and distribute it that we decided to just eat it as a whole; together. It was kinda a barbaric sight. One thing for sure, the cake was simply divine.

It was chocolatey - I like.
It was hazel nutty - I like.
It was extra chocolatey - I like.
Too much of all the above - Makes me (and the rest) sick. Haha!

Ended the meet up with a group photo and after which we went our separate ways.


Awesome day with awesome friends.
Till the next entry.

Cheers!

A concert that I will be performing on September 6th.


Reveal the beauty of Spanish music by one of the most exciting composers of wind music today.

From Valencia comes talented composer Luis Serrano Alarcon, who will conduct the 60-strong wind orchestra in a special programme that mixes works by the award-winning composer with unmistakably Spanish music culled from the country's rich culture.

Enjoy works such as Little Suite for Band, Memorias de un hombre de ciudad and the pasadoble, El Torico de la Cuerda, in Alarcon's first-ever appearance in Singapore.

Prodigious Chinese cellist Qin Li-Wei joins the wind orchestra in Alarcon's melancholic solo piece for cello and band, Tramonto, which evokes a beautiful Italian sunset. The celebrated cellist has won many awards and prizes, including the First Prize in the prestigious 2001 Naumburg Competition and the Young Australian of the Year award in 2002.

Come and be part of this Spanish Fantasia!

Interested?
Choose any one of the methods

1. Contact me via my e-mail (located at the side)
2. Text me via SMS
3. Head down to any SISTIC outlet and make your direct purchase there
4. Visit HERE and scroll to the very bottom and follow the instructions
   

See you there!
Cheers!