nanyangstrings<3

2010-03-08T20:30:00.000+08:00

HELLO EVERYONE HAVE AN AWESOME WEEK AT CAMP/OBS!

See you all during holiday rehearsals. (:

70 Days

2010-03-06T14:55:00.001+08:00

Hey everyone!

(Ohmytian our blog is so deadddddddddddd.)

It's 70 days to our concert, the final concert we seniors will be playing together with the rest of you ): It's sad, but it's true, and day by day it's getting closer and honestly, I really don't know what to feel - happy? sad? I guess I'm happy having almost reached our destination, watching the ensemble grow, watching all of you mature in your playing, as well as in your character, happy that I've contributed to the ensemble in my own way, whether big or small, and that I've managed to come so far. Sadness of course, to be leaving all of you in around 4 months, sadness to be leaving the comfort of M4-04 where I've been going every Tuesday and Thursday for the past for years to be rehearsing with everyone else.

For me, time has really flown by these past years since the first time I joined, up till now, where I'm already in Sec 4. 3 years ago, I was still under the shelter of the protective wings of our seniors, now, in 2010, we are the ones sheltering the rest of you. I recently talked to one of my seniors (she was in Sec 4 when our batch was in Sec 1, so you can imagine), and even she said time really has flown by and all of us are grown up birds ready to fly over the bridge now. Sometimes I really feel like stopping time so that I can remain in NYSE forever (haha), but sadly that isn't possible, and sooner or later, we all have to go in order to let you step up and lead the ensemble.

In these 3 years, the ensemble has grown from strength to strength, becoming more bonded year after year, from the first SYF I've played in in 2007, Carnegie in 2008, and SYF 2009. I'm really glad to have been around when the ensemble has gone through all the changes, and we really are lucky, because compared to the time when I was in Sec 1, there isn't as huge a generation gap as there was before, and over time, I've learnt that friendship has no boundaries, no matter what the age gap is.

On May 15 2010, we'll be making our final stage appearance with all of you. Let's make every moment up till then count, to grow as an ensemble, to flow with the music, to give our best and work together and create memories that we'll be happy remembering, and to let you let us go and to let us leave with no regrets, I know it's a little early to say this but I've always been, and always will be proud to have come from Nanyang Girls' High School's STRING ENSEMBLE (:

NYSE FTW!

2009-12-25T08:19:00.000+08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

And have a great new year ahead :D

Love,

Elissa (:

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T20:50:00.002+08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Have an awesome Christmas and see you all at the chalet! (:

Please, for our sake.

2009-09-08T19:48:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone.

This is mainly for the sec 1 juniors, as a follow up of what was said during overtime just now.

As you know, Mr Sze has been really disappointed in us lately, due to lack of practice, as well as the attendance. We have a really important concert coming up in January, and frankly speaking, we are under-performing.

Yes, Mr Sze has been really nice to us, most of you have not seen the full potential of his rages, or how angry he can get. When I was in Sec 1, I feared him.

A hell lot, and for good reason.

When he screamed during rehearsals, he really screamed. He's walked out on us a few times, and he's even thrown furniture around, torn scores in the middle of recordings and told us to go home.

He's being nice to us, because he knows that if he is too strict and fierce towards us, a majority will fear him, and possibly hate him as well. That is not what he wants. He has feelings too, yes, he's made people cry before, I have cried as a result of his scoldings, but he has been doing this for our sake. Now, what I see, is that people are taking for granted his niceness, taking for granted his respect towards us.

He's given us the respect we wanted from him, but the real question is, are we giving him the respect he deserves? Each time he walks into rehearsal, he ends up waiting for us to practice and figure out our notes, and some don't even bother with that. What happened to the spirit we felt during the SYF period?

Being in NYSE, is not about accumulating as many CCA points as possible - it is about discovering yourself, maturing, growing with your peers and batchmates under the care of your seniors and teachers, as well as developing a passion for music.

Yes, the sec 4s have just stepped down, all the more reason we must put in treble the effort we've been putting in thus far, to keep NYSE going, all of you have to take the initiative to simply pick up your instruments and practice.

Also, there have been many recent cases of people talking back to seniors, and scolding us because we try to correct your mistakes, it is really rude and disrespectful, especially if you treat whatever we say as crap, or roll your eyes at us when we speak.

We do not like to give pep talks, or talk to all of you in this manner, we are here to guide you along your journey in NYSE, as well as to help you. But please, if you haven't gotten the idea, this is your wake up call, you cannot depend on us to cover up for your every mistake or let them go by, because eventually, you are the ones who will be leading the ensemble.

Don't give Mr Sze a hard time, give your exco a hard time trying to get you to practice, your section leaders, seniors. Because every person matters in NYSE, if you don't do your part, it affects your section and eventually the ensemble as well.

Please don't make us seniors turn into naggy grannies, and take the initiative to do your part.

It will make a huge difference (:

2009-09-08T17:53:00.001+08:00

hey nyse!
i'm weiyu here, i just want to add on on what i said just now (: This post is mainly for the
sec ones though..

i have been neglecting strings practice for many weeks to prepare for exams. As you all know, i havent been a really good student during Sec 1, and this year is streaming year, that's why i wanted to put more effort into my academic this time.

I really hope that the juniors can learn to trust whatever the seniors say about Mr Sze, even though i havent been through the period of time when he was extremely fierce & mean, i believe them, cause why in the world will the seniors lie about such stuff?

I hope no one thinks that what i said just now is a joke, (although someone actually rolled her eyes after i spoke, you know who you are.)I hope that you all can use my experience so that you all wont have to go through what i went through.

Anw, the bottom line is: we all should not depend on "wake up calls" to "wake us up".

Strings can really make you become a better person, it can really make you mature, make you grow up. Strings can also give you countless of valuable lessons, but whether or not you become a better person, or whether or not these lessons help you grow, it all depends on if you want to heed the advices, it all depends on YOU.

Random post

2009-08-03T20:53:00.000+08:00

Hello (:

I'm posting to keep the blog alive, but anyway:

Congrats to the new exco!

P: Eugenia
VP/CM: Tingwei
T: Jing Ting
L: Kailin
QM: Xu Yue

All the best for blocks!

-

2009-04-30T20:17:00.001+08:00

(Paulo Coelho)
But there is suffering in life, and there are defeats. No one can avoid them. But it's better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what you're fighting for.

(Theodore Roosevelt)
It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

(Oprah Winfrey)
I don't believe in failure. It's not failure if you enjoyed the process.

(Barack Obama)
Making your mark on the world is hard. If it were easy, everybody would do it. But it's not. It takes patience, it takes commitment, and it comes with plenty of failure along the way. The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won't. it's whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere.

(: CY

2009-04-30T16:38:00.002+08:00

hello NYSE!

omg it's been cow years since i've posted here! okay i'm posting from my dead blogger account heh. anyway i just want to say that i'm really proud to be in NY strings. out of my 4 years in NYSE, this is the first time i felt the unity, the unbreakable bond, and closely knitted friendship in NYSE. and of course we suddenly grew much closer to Mr Sze and really, i think he is a fantastic conductor. After working with various conductors, I finally appreciate the strict discipline which he enforces on us. After all, though it sounds corny, it's really for our own good!

This SYF'09 has been really memorable. This has taught us that the ultimate result doesn't matter, it is simply a bonus. What matters most is our journey, and how Mr Sze feels about our playing. If he thinks we're a GWH standard, i feel that we are definitely a GWH ensemble. SYF is just another competition. In fact, it is a actually Singapore Youth Festival, a festival to celebrate in the name of music. Music has many interpretations, and as long as we know we are making music, that we are feeling it, then we have reached our goal.

Today's ensemble lunch was a really awesome one. The high energy level was truly felt by each and every one of us, and I'm sure this has changed everyone's attitude towards NYSE. For me, I suddenly look forward to doing things and making music with the ensemble. I know we have 2 weeks break from CCA, but i'm really counting down to the day when we resume our practice. We still have many exciting things to look forward to: Open house, CCA CIP, NY Festival of Arts, and EOY concert for some. I know some may dread open house, CIP, and even FOA. But think from another perspective- we get to make music together. Instead of brooding over the hours wasted on CIP and everything, think about the time we get to spend together, to truly enjoy our music. And this time there'll be less pressure because there'll be no panel of judges! It's just us and the music.

Now in school when i see everyone, it's like the Carnegie experience all over again. We've made new friendships, and strengthened the existing ones. I feel a sense of joy and closeness when I greet everyone in school. For me, i'll be cherishing CCA time from now until I step down. It's really a pity that this has to happen when I'm graduating, as i have less time left with the ensemble. But it's okay, i'm sure all seniors will come back often. :D

I'm sure all of us are proud to have two lovely teachers in charge, Mrs Ho and Mr Lee, to have a wonderful exco0809, and to be immensely proud to be under the baton of Mr Trevor Sze. (i see many of you have put that in your MSN names!)

so NYSE, i shall end off with a 'quote' from Mama Mia (or rather, ABBA) :

nyse, thank you for the music.

lots of love, Ysabel.

-

2009-04-28T19:28:00.002+08:00

hey guys (;

omgosh its been a reallllly long while since i posted here. so well since tmr's our big day tada i shall say sth here ya?

our 10 months since we first got our syf scores- filled with happiness, frustration, worry, satisfaction, anxiety, confidence, anger, pleasure.
our 10 minutes on the syf stage tmr, make it a blast and return to nanyang with pride that we have done our best alright?

the same thing i said during ensemble today. trust in mr. sze, trust in your dear ensemblemates, trust in your sectionmates and lastly trust in yourself.

and a quote: "If you set out to live your dream, the world will conspire to make it happen" express a desire to bring out the music that plays in mr. sze's mind, make a conscious effort and it will happen(:

once again im really proud to be tangled in (ny)strings and im quite sure im not the only one.

we've got zeh z power!

with love, shirlynn[:

2009-04-26T10:01:00.000+08:00

Hey NYSE(:

I guess all of us are already feeling the tension. 3 days. A mere 2 more rehearsals and we will be on stage, in front of the panel of judges, in front of Mrs Ho and Mr Lee, in front of our peers from different schools.

I just want to say, nothing is impossible. As long as we put in our utmost effort, we fear not. The faith that we will bring along with us, will tide us through together. No matter what happens on performance day, we stand together as a team, we face whatever happens together as a team.

At the end of day, what we really want to achieve is the satisfaction after playing our music, the satisfaction after our last G chord.

Ending off our last note together, we will exchange glances, with smiles of joy. Deep inside, we know we gave it our best and our 7 months worth of hard work have finally paid off. In the midst of the silence, we will enjoy the echo of our gmajor triad that fills the hall, knowing that all the sweats and tears, lunch sectionals were all worth it. We will look at Mr Sze, feeling grateful for accompanying us through this journey. We will stand facing the audience (even though it must not be a full-house one nor standing ovations), proud to be a member of Nanyang String Ensemble.

At this point of time, what we get doesn’t really matter anymore. We gave it our best last Thursday, and it was for the first time did Mr Sze praised us. “I agree, they are actually at the gold with honours standard already”. Mrs Ee too, said that if we didn’t get gwh, she have no idea what the judges are thinking. With smiles on their faces, we know we did it. We didn’t disappoint them and at the same time, we managed to play our fill. When we did our last run-through for the day, I could feel the strong passion amongst us, the belief and strong unity we have. For me, I thought that was enough. No matter what results we get this coming Wednesday, deep inside i know that NYSE has done it and what’s most important in music afterall is to enjoy and feel. As the saying goes, Music is the wine in the cup of silence. If a picture paints a thousand words, music paints a thousand pictures.

At the end of the day, what we want is to play our best, and at the same time, enjoy the hard work and music that we have been trying to create since 8 months ago. We will not only show, but touched the judges with our passion, our NYSE spirit.

We will walk off the stage with pride; we will leave the stage with no regrets.

If country music is three chords and the truth,
Our music is sixty-three hearts and one harmony.

Let’s start on the mark together and finish the last lap together.

Kimberlyn

this is gonna be long

2009-04-19T18:25:00.001+08:00

hey dearest cca mates :D

alone we are nothing, together we are everything!!!
It's when things seem worst that you must not QUIT!!!

this is my first time posting! I was suddenly inspired to post after reading the posts on this and elissa’s post in v2’s blog. Compared to the people who posted previously, (whose posts are so super eloquent and touching, you guys can be script writers for Hollywood or Korean dramas :O), my post is probably going to pale in comparison^^ but it doesn’t hurt to try right! :D

when I first joined nyse, as a TE-er, I was in a safe and happy haven. TE was the best days of my life as an amateur in violin with 0 degree of experience in stringed instruments. We played out of tune together (that was the time when it was … acceptable :P), we took turns to cue, (I sweated my heart out everytime I was made to cue), we ate during breaks together, we had lots of happy memories together :D however, one by one, we had to leave our dear little nest, to come into this BIG world called Main Ensemble, where we had to gradually dissociate and come in terms with the reality.

Those transitional days were the hardest moments, where I was in violin two with all the very pro people and trying very hard not to fake everything through, especially the spiccato parts which I just can’t seem to get the hang of, and trying my best to shake my left hand as much as possible for the nice vibrato that my snrs and peers just seem to be so adept in (it used to come out as a squeak instead of the nice wavey rings, but it’s getting better :D). then I realized that there was no miracle, no miracle to why my fellow ensemble mates could play so well. No, a fairy did not wave a magic wand at them and cast a spell. No, they did not use some mystic bow or magical violin (like hino from la corda d’oro). They just did a simple to say yet so tough to do regime: PRACTISE. And I mean PRACTISE REALLY HARD and PLAYING TOGETHER AS A SECTION, AN ENSEMBLE. Like the famous story of Carnegie Hall, where a man (who wanted to ask for directions only) was asking an old man “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” and the old man (mistakenly) replied “Practice practice practice.” this might be just a joke, but it shows how important practicing and being together is.

Actually, I’m still trying to grasp the concept of practicing, even now. sometimes, I’ll be lazy, and think “its ok luh, people are covering up for you”, but then, if everyone thinks that way, we’ll be one big piece of screwed work. so practice is the key :D I can never forget what Mr Sze said last time, that SYF is about ensembleship, not on how high your grade is. That was why he could accept even amateur players like me into his ensemble, and I’m really grateful for that, for judging a person based on one’s dedication and not one’s merits. Also, a shoutout to Kimberlyn, Elissa, Jingting, Eugenia, for once doing individuals with me :D really appreciate your scoldings/words of advise/clapping :D

Lastly, here’s a special shoutout for all the TE members now: JIAYOU KAY! CHERISH THE MOMENTS YOU HAVE NOW, COS THE TIMES IN ME ARE ALTHOUGH HARDER, BUT BETTER! Thank you for always helping us carry the chairs about and setting up with us without grumbling, we really appreciate it! I remembered my days as a stagecrew, where I used to grumble to myself how repetitious and boring my job is, and why seek perfection for a simple thing like that? But then I realized that it’s all worth it, when I found out how my snrs and peers were all playing really really hard for their one goal: GWH. The stagecrew, which is YOU, is just as important as anyone, for you guys are instrumental in our SYF! So, don’t be fazed by any scolding, cos you guys know that you are trying your best and the scoldings are just there for you to improve!

It’s a few days more, can we do it NYSE? YES WE CAN! WE’LL GET THAT GOLD, THAT HONOURS, THAT GOLD WITH HONOURS! For sec3s and 4s, its our last time playing syf together, so let’s make the best out of it yeah!!!

Nyse, you’ll never be alone,
JIAQI :D

A short post

2009-04-17T12:44:00.005+08:00

"In every journey, it's the process that counts the most, and the ultimate result is gained from that process."

Whether or not we get the Gold with Honours, we would have gained something much much more than that, and that's the NYSE spirit! All the tears, the blisters, the headaches, fevers, shouting, scolding, everything is geared for the final showdown at TRPCC (or whatever it's called, forgot :X).

Yesterday, Mr Sze said that he's proud of us, something the majority of us have not heard for a long time.

NYSE all the way, 12 days to go!

You'll never walk alone (:

A recount

2009-04-15T23:10:00.001+08:00

3 years ago I was a lost Sec 1, maybe as lost as you are now or even more lost.

After playing country dance in TE, I entered ME to play some crazily fast-speed piece (Berkeley) that uses spiccato throughout. I mean, Sec 1, a crazy beat of like 132 and spiccato throughout, you must be kidding man, so yes, I struggled, and I struggled like mad. In fact I wonder how Mars managed to tolerate me (I kept screwing up the piece and faking the spiccato parts for one month), but after checking out web videos, asking seniors and batchmates, asking my teacher, and even asking my dad what he thinks of spiccato, I managed to do it, yeah but it was then that Mr Sze decided to change the piece because we were unable to play out the character of the piece.

Rewind a bit, anyway, when I first sat in ME, it was totally awesome. In TE I used to look up to ME a lot, wondering how ME works, wondering when I’ll ever get in and wondering where I’ll be sitting, how Mr Sze will be like, etc, so when I first came up, it was a really big transition. Plus it was SYF, even bigger transition >< Thankfully Pinyan was nice and didn’t stop conducting because of my gross playing. Everything changed so fast after that.

In December, we were already spamming rehearsals and our standards were still far off the mark. Truthfully speaking, towards the beginning of 2007, I was beginning to wonder what’s the meaning of GWH, like why are we practising so hard? Sectionals were hot and stifling and often boring because we kept spamming over and over again, concentrating on 3 notes for hours, and my eyes just kept wanting to shut (we didn’t manage to get air-con rooms like LT2, etc then). I recall how Mr Sze used to scold Yuhe till she cried after rehearsal, how I myself used to cry, how so many have cried in the process. I used to complain about how I wanted to give up and stop practising, how I was demoralized, etc., but the seniors kept me going, they kept us going, and within a blink of an eye, it was SYF.

On the morning of SYF, the atmosphere was really tense. I didn’t give out the cookies that I baked (in case of food poisoning –.- so I only gave them out after SYF). That morning, we played the best Dvorak and Walton ever. We were really nervous on the bus, and when we reached SCH we queued awhile, then tuned, and suddenly we were onstage. I wasn’t even prepared. 8 minutes and everything was over. Many people cried and complained about how they’ve screwed up, like for example bar 16 (violin 1 running notes), Section C (violas intonation nightmare), Section B (balance part), Section C5 (violas had some trill), etcetc. Gowns were wet with tears, and it was a really messy scene.

We watched a couple of schools before our results were announced. I still remember all of us holding hands. Then the words came, and when the guy paused slightly at “Gold”… “with honours”. There were more tears, literally tears spilling everywhere, and I was really lost in the moment, but one thing I know is, it felt really great.

Anyway, you must be wondering why I recounted all that. All I want to say is that we all share the same sense of insecurities. Most of us have probably never experienced SYF before, don’t know what SYF is, don’t know what the big deal about SYF was. It’s something that I cannot put into words, you really need to experience it to know it, to feel it, but it’s something that will stay with you for life. I won’t say it’s so much of the competition; it’s more of the struggle, together as an ensemble, you know. And truthfully speaking the previous SYF bonded us loads, and without it, I don’t know where we’ll be, here and now.

I was only Sec 2 then, and now I’m Sec 4, going for SYF for my second time. It’s my second and last SYF with NYSE, while for most of us I believe it’s our first. It is at this age that I no longer feel that sectionals are hot, boring and stifling (though Joan can be boring at times too). It is at this age that I’m beginning to understand how the seniors once felt, and why they did the things they did as well; and it is at this age that I understand why Mr Sze did what he did and why Mr Sze does what he does now (trust me, it’s really, really very toned down already).

If Mr Sze hasn’t been harsh, I really don’t know how we would have fared, and honestly, I sometimes wish he’d be fiercer to us, and I think some of the seniors feel the same way, because it seems like we’ve been taking his niceties for granted. I don’t know if we’re being fair to him. As a human, as a sensing human, I think any of us can see that Mr Sze is stressed. Honestly speaking, 1 vs 63 just for making announcements is scary enough, but 1 vs 63 for all rehearsals and having to scold us, having to accept our irresponsiveness, it’ll take a lot of strength for me to do what he has done so far, and I don’t want to be in his shoes. I think it’s time we show him some support, no? He’s a human too. We’re all humans, are we not?

14 more days.

I didn’t want to let Mars down; I didn’t want to let Mr Sze down; I didn’t want to let myself down, and now, I don’t want us to let ourselves down.

SYF is coming up in just a few days, are we ready?

my turn :))))

2009-04-13T22:31:00.002+08:00

YO PEEPS!!!!

Rachael here. heheeee... i know not many want to read long posts but hope you'll bear with this short one :p hahaa, as you all know, WE WANT THAT GOLD WITH HONOURS!!! what's up man? isn't that what everyone is thinking about??? but of course, if we want to achieve that highEST level, we seriously gotta jiayou. Mr. Sze has said already, WE'RE ACTUALLY STARTING TO IMPROVE and MOVING TOWARDS THAT STANDARD! :] so, the more we can't let our guard down now.

I don't know for you guys but for me, i'm thinking about CCA like ~85% of my time awake. =,=""" i know that's kiasu but i'm serious. maybe i'm paranoid, scared of mr sze's harsh comments on my poor playing but hey, we need all those to improve!!! You know, i'm always thinking of our Piece A and Piece B and moving with the beat, rhythm; especially the later one :] MAN I LOVE THEM!!! hahahaaa. in class too by the way. but who cares, i sit at the back of the class, so not many can see me 'moving'/'bobbing'. lol

So, NYSE, hope all of us can really jiayou from THIS VERY MINUTE!!! those reading this, have you guys prac today? har?? everyone's busy but if you can just pick up that delicate instrument of yrs and prac for who knows a few minutes it's GOOD ENOUGH!! violins=the runs, violas and cellos=intonation *coughs*.. just some rough ideas. but YOU KNOW WHAT TO WORK ON.

KK, everyone jiayou!!! i shall stop rambling now. this is really the last lap. when we get that award, everything will be WORTH IT. don't you guys wanna scream in that hall (can we??!), hug one another, see mr sze's smile, our seniors' tears??

NYSE JIAYOU. WE CAN DO IT!!!

with lots of love,
rachael :]

SYF Motivations (from the ensemble) :D

2009-04-13T00:21:00.001+08:00

Let the ears of the world hear the music of nyse.
Let the music of nyse reach the hearts of people.
Let our love for music move each and every soul.

In a month and a few more days we’ll all be on the stage before the judges that will decide the road the ensemble will take in the next 2 years, how other schools will look at us, how the public will look at us, how mr sze will treat us etc. When we leave nanyang, we will want to look back and see how we’ve progressed in the cca, how much effort we have put in for the cca. I guess all the preparation, all the scoldings, all the sweat and tears in the course of the preparation for syf will all be fond memories when we leave ny. In this last month before the competition, let make full use of our time preparing for syf (self practice at home :D) and create all these memories along the way. A few years down the road, when we recall the times in ny, we’ll, hopefully, remember all those hard work we’ve put in, all the tears and laughter we’ve experienced in nyse :D sometimes, it’s the process that matters, and not the end result. so practice hard in the final lap to syf ^^

(Joan)

没有播种，何来收获；没有辛苦，何来成功；没有磨难，何来荣耀；没有挫折，何来辉煌。开始努力吧！在这个过程中你必须放弃很多东西，但你要明白它们都不是你最终想要的，你要相信在你成功以后，总有一天它们会再回来，而且比现在更美好！所以，南中弦乐队，我们一起加油吧！

(Zhi Yuan)

Hey NYSE (:

The recent rehearsals have been really exhausting, but we’ve progressed quite a bit since the RP rehearsal, and the spirit of NYSE is starting to shine through, though we haven’t reached our desired standard yet. Although there is hardly a month left to 29^th April, we can reach that Honours standard as we did before, only if we keep on working hard, and putting in our 200% into the rehearsals and practicing. As Mr Sze said, the audience will form an impression on us, so let’s work hard to make this impression a good one – an impression of dedication, enthusiasm and pure spirit.

True, in the midst of blocks, projects, SIAs, slowly sapping away our energy, it is really exhausting having to cope with everything that sometimes we just feel so frustrated (to quote Evelyn) “we want to throw our instruments out the window”, but we still push ourselves to do our best.

The Honours may seem really far away now, but hey, we’ve got the support of the TE, seniors, the teachers in charge, the school, our parents, so many people have the faith in us to get the Honours! Even the seniors from 2005, our first SYF with an Honours achievement, came back just to listen to us and show their support, and also from the RJC rehearsal, the alumni coming back to give us support and to help us improve, Mr Sze trying really hard to help us achieve the Honours standard, etc. Everyone makes a difference in NYSE, no matter where we are, front desk or last desk, violins, cellos, violas or basses, no matter how insignificant we think ourselves to be, we all have a role to play – not just through the playing, but we can all motivate and encourage each other too.

Although our self-rating for SYF wasn’t encouraging, let’s keep working hard to get back our Honours standard, and walk off the stage with smiles on our faces! We still have 30+ days to go, to push ourselves back up, and reach our goal. We can do this NYSE, let’s jiayou and work to bring ourselves up to our maximum for SYF 2009!

I hope that NYSE be bonded as one forever and ever, jiayou for SYF, you'll never walk alone.

Peiling

Good luck nyse! It's my first year joining but i really feel the nyse spirit. All the best for syf and thanks for letting me be a part of it!

Lavender

JY for SYF!

Cecilia

DP!

2009-03-20T23:09:00.001+08:00

HEY HEY! CAOYUN IN THE HOUSE!
:D

Recommended to use as dp! Free for any NYSE members to kope :D

2009-03-16T20:26:00.003+08:00

After a long period of time
Our tears moisten setbacks
That accompany us now
In this seemingly lonely journey lane

Fortunately, in our mutual acquaintance
We have a common ideal - a distant but achievable goal
A symbol of new hope
In order to fight this in sight

However remote the goal
We exhausted every effort
Having tears and bitter
Sometimes even a disastrous failure

Even when we want to give up chasing that dream
Lets not forget the tears
Tears are for evaporation
After recycling into efforts behind the sweat
To persevere

So that the fragile post-ironic soul
Become strong and brave
We have been stabbed by Failure
In the other end of another road

As long as a new start
Been really successful
Keep a stiff upper lip,
the next step is a brighter future

Failures are to tell us the true meaning of hope
Moreover, to tell us that the next step is not difficult
Just a little Friendship, encouragement, effort, perseverance
And, a lot of - courage

2009-03-12T23:14:00.007+08:00

懵懂的我们
经过漫长的岁月
泪水挫折的滋润
陪伴我们走到如今

在这看似孤独的旅程里
幸运的我们于彼此相识
我们拥有共同的理想 ---- 一个遥远却可实现的目标
象征着新的希望

为了争取这个似乎近在眼前
却远在天边的目标
我们耗尽一切力量

有泪水与辛酸
有时甚至失败得不堪设想
更有时我们想要放弃追逐那遥不可及的梦想

但是不要忘记

流泪
是为了让泪水蒸发
再循环后变成
努力背后的汗水

伤心
是被严厉的讽刺后让脆弱的心灵
变得勇敢坚强
再也不会被玫瑰刺伤

失败
是发现另一条道路才是终点
只要重新出发
得到真正的成功

咬紧牙关，下一步则海阔天空
失败时并不是失败，放弃才是失败的真正含义

更何况

下一步并不艰难
只需一点
友情、鼓励、努力、持之以恒
还有很大的-- 勇气

~ 残酷的时间不会倒流、世间也没有所谓的‘后悔药’，有些事情一生只能有一次去争取的机会。因此，开始学会珍惜每一个机会，尽自己的每份努力。若我们真的错过了这次的理想，至少我们不会留下终生的遗憾。~

From: A Friend.

P.s. Hope this peom is not too abstract to understand... And pardon my lack of practise in writing 'inspirational' things.. haha XD.

Jia you NYSE!
Although the oil price is still in its inflation period.. but hang in there!!

48 days left, and counting

2009-03-12T21:39:00.001+08:00

HELLO ALL! I’m here to revive our dear dead blog! and yes, it’s 48 days to SYF, officially!

Yeah, so you say, “I can’t wait for it all to be over man!” Face it, who doesn’t want it to be over soon? Without SYF, we’ll all be able to study peacefully. Without SYF, we’ll all be free to play on PSP and Wii or whatever else technology has to offer (I’m sorry, I’m outdated). Without SYF, we’ll all be able to skip up and down happily down the fields, feeling the wind breeze by; catch butterflies, go fishing with families! Oh the lovely!

Then again, without SYF, where would we have stood? Where would we have been, the 60+ of us?

This is our chance to prove what kind of ensemble we really are, where we stand, how we have grown since 2007. All eyes will be on us to perform (no pressure), think of our 2005 seniors, those who have dug the road and paved it nicely for us to walk on. The red carpet’s all laid out, we’re just not walking on it yet, and what’s stopping us?

Duh, ourselves.

Well, I guess the road’s pretty up and down so far, windy, but nevertheless, we’re walking on. There’s never been a period of time where we are actually steadily marching on, it’s all been laden with stones and pebbles and rocks that we must cross, that we can cross over. I guess most of us are familiar with our own standards, so I shan’t harp much on it, but think about it, it’s 48 days left.

You may want to recall 7 months ago, when we first received the piece, how everything felt so surreal then, so sudden. And now, 7 months later, everything will just be over in the blink of an eye. The lights will shine, our hands will sweat, we’ll get nervous, our butts get jittery, and everything’s over. We’ll take the bus back to school, probably to take our respective block test papers, life will resume so fast.

Sure, we don’t have the best of the world in our ensemble, but hey, there’s something else beyond that, right? I’ve witnessed it before, in Carnegie. Yeah, so it wasn’t our best performance, but truthfully speaking it was one of my most enjoyable performances, and if you’ve bothered to lift your head up and look around I’m sure you would’ve felt the same. And hey, we managed to receive a standing ovation.

Just look at those tears, those hugs, those shared moments we had.

48 days left, I believe we can bring that spirit back (:

And on that day, I wish to see us crying and hugging, crying because there’s too much joy to contain.

Cheers,
CY

SEC ONE ORIENTATION

2009-02-03T20:36:00.001+08:00

HELLO! As promised :D Pictures from Sec 1 Orientation!

Violists PWN lah !

Amanda!

Jingting gets owned by Aileen O_O

O_O

Sec 2 niners O_O

IMBA!

CHEERS,
CY :D

why am i the only one posting ):

2008-12-27T17:48:00.001+08:00

BOO ALL!

I've uploaded all the strings pics I have with me onto our photobucket! (which was completely empty when I went there! >< ) so all those who have huge stashes of strings pics and did not contribute any, go cry in a corner k! HAHA :D but eh seriously lah go add k! :D so that our future generations can see how super glam their ancestors look ! :D HAHA! ok yah tts all!

CHEERS!
cy!

POSTCONCERT!

2008-12-16T14:57:00.001+08:00

(sorry for the really abrupt start but) CONCERT'S OVER! Though our performance wasn't very satisfactory, let's use it to benchmark our current standard and propel us forward to greater heights k!

Anyway, there's still more to come in Holidays! Please jiggle around in excitement in your seats now as we countdown the number of days to BBQ! With seniors all the way back! I know not many people check yahoo groups (hmm maybe we should impose a fine next time yeah) but anw, please email nyse.exc0809@gmail.com about your attendance/whether you're staying over by 18th, 'cos that'll affect all the food logistics and etc. All sums will come from CCA fund so if you wna miss it, you're missing out (:

AND sorry for this splash of cold water but those selected for sec 1 miniconcert, we'll have to bring our instruments to BBQ (if staying over) or meet in nanyang at wee wee hours in the morning if we're not, 'cos 30th is tentatively set as our first rehearsal together with the rest. BUT HEY, anything for those cute little sec1s with cute chubby little cheeks who'll come around bouncing right! :D

Okay, in short, go check your yahoogroups, email over your attendance, and check again before next week arrives (: To save the effort, use windows outlook and trash all your email accounts there (: It rocks :D

CHEERS,
(c'mon lah who uses cheers so often!)

Sul Ponticello [:

2008-12-13T09:57:00.002+08:00

Hey everyone!

Despite the scoldings and drillings from the previous few rehearsals, let's all jiayou for the concert together and put on our best show alright? :D NYSE's gone a long long way since the last pep talk by the exco and Mr. Sze, and it's really nice to see everyone bonding quite well now yay ^^

I think other people can say more encouraging stuff than I can so I shall keep this short! [:

JIAYOU NYSE, SUL PONTICELLO FOR THE WIN! ❤

END OF CAMP!

2008-12-06T15:40:00.001+08:00

HELLO ONE AND ALL! CAMP IS OVER ): BUT CONCERT'S JUST AROUND THE CORNER! haha I bet many want the group pictures so here they are! :D

Cheers,
CY!

Combined Camp! :D

2008-12-01T14:58:00.003+08:00

Hello NYSE! :D

Countdown to camp is one day! (Not counting today of course). Are you excited? I heard from a friend in RISE that the night games are really really fun and there's alot of room for zi-highing!

Yeap, so let's make full use of the camp for bonding and to just fully enjoy every day, and also to show the guys what we're made of heh heh. xD Seniors will be coming back to crash the camp as well so let's not waste the efforts of the exco and Mr. Sze by just enjoying everything okay?

Pardon me for sounding lame, in abit of a high mood now heh. :X

Cya!
Elissa.

2008-11-26T20:33:00.003+08:00

Hello NYSE! :D

Okay, thanks to the inspiring posts of Elissa and Weiyu, I think we all know how much Mr Sze and our wonderful and hardworking exco has done for us. So, let's just be thankful, appreciate the numerous number of blessings showered upon us, thanks to them, and get enthusiastic and accepting as to Mr Sze's ways, for we should all know that this is all for the best of our ensemble.

And let us, from now onwards, always look on the bright side of things. BE OPTIMISTIC (I'm sure most of you can be, judging by your characteristics)!!!!!

Speaking of being optimistic, let's set our worries aside and look forward to the one and only: HCISO-NYGH CAMP!!!! Which, by the way, is coming up in about 6 days!!!!
The exco have gone through a great deal to let this camp be a success, so, even if you have to force yourselves to forget about the terrible nights which we are going to sleep in school, LOOK FORWARD TO IT AND START PACKING! :D

Oh, and another thing. This Friday, we have decided that we shall all go for BATCH LUNCH! :D So, if you can, if you read this just in time, please pass it on to the rest of your batchmates/seniors/juniors!!!!! :D

By the way, if you have any snide comments towards CCA/sectionals/whatever, please do not mention it and try to bury it deep in your heads, because it may/most certainly will effect the whole ensemble. Then we'll have to go through this whole routine once again. -.- So, keep to yourselves whenever you feel something horrible in those stomachs of yours! :D (unless, of course, if you're about to throw up in front of the whole ensemble)

Hilary :]

"Keep moving forward!!!" -The Robinsons

let's do this together.

2008-11-25T19:12:00.003+08:00

Hello NYSE! (Again.)

Okay, I know this is the second time I'm posting today, but I just want to add on to what Weiyu said in her post [:

I was really moved to tears when the exco and Mr. Sze said what they said yesterday and I think I really have to mention this here.

The exco, they have worked so very hard for us, doing all the admin work and possibly (I do not doubt so) working late into the nights just to do their part for the ensemble. I've even noticed some of the exco members sleeping in class because they are really that exhausted. Even during the breaks during block tests and EOYs, they have worked really really hard for the future of the ensemble. They hardly had a break at all.

They have as much school work as the rest of us do, maybe even more, and with their after school activities like HMP, 3rd Lang and maybe even remedial classes, they still set aside time to fulfill their duties, and it isn't even last minute either.

The amount of time, effort and sleep they've sacrificed for the sake of the ensemble is really admirable, and I think we are really taking them for granted - they provide the stage for us, yet we have forgotten that they are the ones who are working in the background so that we can shine fully in the limelight.

And Mr. Sze, sacrificing his reputation in the SSO (which is 100+ members strong, I'll reckon) and all around him just so he can keep the ensemble going and putting in so much effort to help us achieve our goal. How many conductors do that?

Think about it, alright? I really felt guilty when I heard about that, what have we ever done for Mr. Sze other than to run away from him or avoid him whenever there's a break in between rehearsals? Even during the trip in New York, he was guiding us throughout the city, bringing us around and planning the programme for us just to make sure we enjoy the trip fully. It's really obvious: people avoid him and don't even make him feel like he's a part of us.

Have we ever done anything for him in return?

Yet there are still people rebelling against all this hard work, not putting in the efforts that we should all be putting in. Even a simple matter such as practicing is retorted at by excuses and procrastination. Who isn't busy? The point is to set aside time to practice, so that we do not have to go through the same things over and over again; to allow the ensemble to progress further.

Us section leaders and principal players try really really hard to make ourselves heard, and I'm referring to this as a general issue mind, but simple things like practicing is really the basic. If people are still coming into CCA without practicing, not only do they suffer because they lag behind, the whole ensemble suffers. And not only that, various details that have been mentioned before have to be repeated again for their sake - it really slows things down.

So please, let us push aside all the negativity, the tears, and put in more effort and contributions towards the CCA as a whole, and not let the efforts of previous batches of seniors go to waste, as well as our own efforts. We have come so far since we started, all the sacrifices made is really worth it: but only if we work together, and work hard as well.

I believe NYSE can go much further, so let's all jiayou okay? [:

♥, Elissa.

p/s. Please pardon me if I sound strict okay? I don't mean to make anyone feel bad about themselves. None of the above is aimed at any specific section, but is more of a general issue. (:

2008-11-25T16:50:00.002+08:00

Yoo (:
i'm sure everyone's touched by mr sze's lecture yesterday. there were tears, and you can hear yu he's voice quivering when she talked to us. seriously, his lecture was inspiring, was touching. i mean, he sacrificed his reputation for NYSE. i mean, it's not that easy to make a sacrifice, and his sacrifice to us was really huge.
seriously, like what mr sze said, we take things from granted. the reason why we arent working so hard now, is simply because we thought we will be able to get a GWH for syf again, just because we have gotten GWH for the past two syfs.
but also, i dont think we shld always put the blame on ppl who arent up to standard. i mean, yes, sometimes they really arent putting their best, but what if, they ARE already putting their best but it's just because they lack a little talent? im not saying that this is the same scenario for everyone, but sometimes, they are a few ppl like that. a lot of ppl in the cello section told me that strings isnt their first choice CCA. they have been forced , in some way or another, to do something that they dont like to do. i believe that those ppl who have been fired do not have strings as their first choice. i think we shld try to understand those ppl too, they are being forced to do something that they dont like to do. how would you feel if you're forced to do something that you dont like to do? fortunately, the cellists are coperative, they look on the bright side of things. keep it up cellists! (:
the issue on strings bonded-ness, has been brought up many many times already. why is strings not bonded? is it because we really are self centered/selfish? i was shocked when i heard cao yun say that she saw someone going for lunch alone. i mean, does it take a lot to ask that someone to join you for lunch? even if that person turns down your offer, im sure she'll feel better knowing that someone actually bothered asking her. we HAVE to work together, cause after all, everyone in this team matters, and no one shld be left out.
i think we're lucky to have really good exco members, to have exco member who sincerely cares about the cca, who are really passionate about this cca, who really cares about everyone in this cca.
shirlynn, she wasted so much of her time just to lend her bow to the other bassists. she could have just walk off after her lesson finishes, but she didnt, she stayed for another hour or so, just to lend them HER bow. she could have just walk off, but she didnt. i believe we do really have to thank our exco, for being really committed to this cca.
having said all this, i hope we really can change for the better, and i hope that the exco will not need to remind us about the issue on bonded-ness again.

if i can understand what mr sze said, why cant you?

-weiyu-

NYSE's on facebook! :D

2008-11-25T15:26:00.008+08:00

Hello NYSE! [:

OMG I totally forgot we had a blog can you believe it, I'm so sorry! ): I only remembered after I went blog hopping :X

Okay anyway, *drumrolls please!*

NYSE IS OFFICIALLY ON FACEBOOK! [: Haha I created a new group yesterday when I got home. Do go and join if you have a FB account okay? Or rather, go and create a facebook account and go joinnn!

okay nevermind -.= Just join when you feel like it, because it's a group specially for us! (Obvious right.)

Yup, I really hope also that we can achieve the superglue bonds (as Caoyun said) that we used to have, and not let anything else drive us apart anymore. As the exco and Mr. Sze said yesterday, let's get rid of the negativity and work together towards a common goal okay?

Because we're the one and only NYSE (other than the Stock Exchange), and I'm sure we didn't join only for CCA points right? Everyone has worked hard to come this far, so let's continue to drive ourselves forward and reach our goals, together as one!

Be proud you're tangled in (NY)Strings! <3

Jiayou NYSE, one for all, all for one!

♥, Elissa.

Countdown to camp!

2008-10-22T23:31:00.001+08:00

42
days to camp!

new blogskin

2008-10-18T22:53:00.000+08:00

hey everyone [;

due to alignment problem i changed the skin to something more personalised! :D hahaha.

once again, jy for assesments!

<3, elissa.

2008-10-18T22:46:00.001+08:00

HELLO! Eh, just to correct hilary's prev post! Not only sec2s and sec3s will be playing and to whoever spreading that, it's wrong info (: so please don't be mistaken/disheartened :D Rather, due to the small size of the performance area, some adjustments (i dont know what) may have to be made, no promises there.

psps: alignment o_o

cy!

2008-10-18T13:55:00.001+08:00

Hello NYSE!! x)

This is my first time posting here... Ooh and LOOK! I'm the fourth person in NYSE to post! Hahaha.

Anyway, I changed the blogskin, like I said I would on the tagbox. I know there is an alignment problem, but it's not really that noticable right? Or I can try to fix it... But that's unlikely.

Anyway, CCA is going to start again on the 21st! So have fun practising for concert, SYF next year and ASSESSMENTS! By the way, I heard from Cao Yun that the assessments are going to be random calling, meaning Mr Sze would just call anyone he feels like calling for assessments. So good luck to us all! xD

Oh yes and I linked the blog already. :]

You know, I really like this blogskin... But if you want to change it then it's also fine with me!

Ahhh...! I don't have a bass! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO PRACTISE?!? Maybe on Tuesday I shall go to M4 and practise... BUT NO ROSIN!!! :'( Okay I don't care how. I'll at least practise the fingering... :)

Okay why am I writing that? It's too personal... Actually not really but it is not linked to the CCA that much... It's like my own problem...

Ooh I also heard that only the Sec 2's and 3's are going to play for the concert... That's SO SAD! Not to mention BAD! :(

So everyone, see y'all back together in M4-04 next Tuesday!! And we can start practising again (hooray)!

Toodles,
Hilary

suggestion for blogskin

2008-10-17T11:19:00.000+08:00

hey,

haha first time posting here [; hmmmm for the blogskin right, i was sort of searching through today and found a relatively nice one: http://blogskins.com/info/184020 (Bittersweet Symphony by Slayerette)

it's got some girl playing the violin or something haha. anyway, i can make one if you guys like, but i can't code blogskins for nuts >_<"

jiayou for assessments and enjoy the long weekend! :D
♥ Elissa.

2008-10-17T00:55:00.001+08:00

HEY PPL :D

finally we got a cca blog dun make it too dead yeah?[: firstly i think we should thank caoyun for creating the blog & for "the links that she painstakingly did up"! :D

eoys are over yup yup time to be high! suggested to do list for you guys heh[:

1-link this blog [:
2-post something about this blog on ur blog
3- post something on this blog like how i was told to do so!
4-continue to check yahoo groups about the new cca tee!
5-and whatever caoyun said there [:
6-tag this blog IN ADDITION to your post omgosh!-.-
7-remember to go for cca on 21st! (which means rmb to bring scores and ur instrument as well!) absence must still tell kimberlyn arh! email her by 10pm the night before [:
8-practise! have assessments!
9-practise somemore! for concert this time [;
10-look forward to cca&camp&concert!

quite a long list! & caoyun's previous post sounds like someone 15 and my post sounds like someone 8 years old =.--

but nvm because im
PROUD TO BE TANGLED IN (NY)STRINGS! ;D

<3 shirlynn[:

A starting post!

2008-10-15T18:40:00.000+08:00

HELLO to our new cca blog! Feel free to post anything/whatever here(: Sorry for the awful starter skin! Do change it if you've got better ones (: Included links from my own list so sorry if it's outdated! Errors may have been made in transferring names from the contact list as well so please forgive me! (: Announcements will still be made via the yahoo groups system so do remember to check your yahoo emails still! In the meanwhileeeeeee,

enjoy.

Cheers,

Cao Yun :D