Friday, December 09, 2005

I'm back from Genting Highlands (Malaysia) with MJCSB for the 21st Century International Band Competition. It's been such "a good mix of fun, laughter tears and triumph", as quoted from Fabian. Indeed, this trip to Malaysia gave me an entirely deeper understanding of the band. There's just so much to describe! I'll attempt to do a summary.

Basically, Singapore Rhapsody Mvt II and Noah's Ark rocked the Genting International Convention Centre on 7th December 2005, Thursday. The feelings were just THERE, and the delivery was an excellent one, beyond our own expectations and standards. Scores were as follows:

Singapore Rhapsody: 443/500
Noah's Ark: 453/500

Excellent! A percentage of 89.6% rightfully belonged to MJCSB. The position of top band for this competition was rightfully earned by us. But no, the post result announcement hour was one which was full of tears and unhappiness, disappointment and righteous anger. Because of a stupid technical glitch, we had to be penalised by 5% of our total percentage, the glitch being, OVER TIME. When all of us heard about it, we were shattered. After penalty, we missed the top position by 0.08%. But it wasn't announced that our marks were penalised. Girls and guys alike, broke down. There was nothing to rejoice about, except for the fact that everyone felt the same way with regards to this issue. Pure disappointment and heartache for our fellow bandmates, for Ms Sia. We did not win NOT because we played badly. That was the 2nd time in my band life, I've ever seen a whole band cry together. The first was in MBS, when we got our first Gold Medal. And the second, was here in MJCSB, when this happened... It was an overwhelming sight.

Justice kind of prevailed though. On the closing ceremony, our raw scores before deduction were re-announced, and the fact that our marks were deducted was also announced. And the organisers removed the rankings, putting in place a new award: Gold with Distinction for bands scoring 85% and above. And we proved our worth at the performance for the ceremony. Noah's Ark stormed Genting Highlands that night. It ended well. The band was yet again, a level more closely knitted together, with the desire to present our best rendition of Noah's Ark and Kaze No Mae to the rest of the participating bands.

The cocktail party ended in our favourite medley cheer and the college anthem, with pple getting very high and excited and all.

Sigh. time flies, and here i am back in Singapore already. I'm beginning to miss crossing over to kinlok's room or yosua's room to chat and crap; miss walking out into the cold and up little slopes to get a breathtaking city view together with tsz yan, paulina, xw, junyang; miss sharing a room with fabian; miss crapping and bitching with dawn and siokwei; miss sitting at Starbucks with ms sia and fellow band members drinking hot chocolate in the cold night and talking about everything under the sun.

It's been a beautiful closing chapter of my term in MJCSB. I'll never forget the past few days...

I shall post some pictures up soon. Meanwhile, i need sleep. Missed it last night.

Till again!