Yesterday our choir had to perform at Victoria Concert Hall (VCH) for this workshop organised by Choral Directors' Association of Singapore (CDAS). I didn't know what the workshop was about earlier on until Miss Ding gave Pock Thong the schedule of choirs and I saw at the bottom of the list that it was organised by CDAS. No wonder I saw some of the familiar choir conductors' faces there... last time Jonathan, Edmond and I went for this choral workshop organised by CDAS as well.

Anyway, we met in school at 12.15pm to do some warm-ups and miscellaneous stuffs. I thought we had more than enough time but ended up that the time was just right because there were actually many things we had to do, like the entry and exit, positions and some other basic stuffs.

Reached VCH at 2pm, and asked the VCH lady whether we're allowed inside the concert hall. She was like telling me that we were late and the event was almost over already, after knowing which choir we are. Then this guy, whom I later knew as one of the conductors, said we were early and were allowed in the terrace as a place to settle down first. Woo scary, but how can we be late anyway?

Well, according to the schedule, Catholic High choir was first of the earlier session, then our choir was last of the later session. Like what Pock Thong said:

They want the event to start with a "bang!", and end with a bigger "bang!".

Really?

Okay so we entered the Concert Hall at 2.30pm, and listened to a few choirs sing. Mr Kwei came over and we asked him whether there will be time for warm-ups before our performance. He said no, then suggested that we move down after TKSS has performed. TKSS was very strong and powerful.

So after some warm-ups and some run-through of the songs we went up to perform. Well no more stage fright like last time, felt very confident of myself, plus it was not really a big event so wasn't really nervous. Hope this could give the sec 1s and some of the sec 2s some experience as to what it is like on stage.

Can you feel the love tonight - It seems like a warm-up song for us. The song was easy, but it didn't really sound very good. Unable to elevate our expressions over the 2nd part of the song and the part where there was a change of key.

Tantum Ergo - Sounded quite nice over my side. Not sure about the other sections, but the part where the Sopranos stick out was not really good, not powerful enough. Ended in tune, which I predicted wrongly: I thought we will go 1 semitone sharp.

Wawaki - Not good. Before we even completed the first page of the 3-page song we were 1 semitone sharp already. If I am not wrong it was the Sopranos and Altos going sharp while holding the D note. Also, we were rushing towards the last part, which I have emphasised quite a few times already.

At least it was sort of performance standard, but I felt it could be much better. This performance should prepare us for the Malacca trip, and ultimately, SYF 2007.