We're back from Taipei!

We're back from Taipei!

Potenza and Vocal Band members recently Went to Taipei for the ninth Taiwan International Contemporary A Cappella Competition. It's HKMM's second-ever competition attempt, and its first competing with professional international groups. Quite an experience.

We didn't win anything at the six-hour long (!) competition, though honestly it was a long shot since there were twelve strong groups competing. I think we didn't do too badly despite screwing up a bit at the beginning. Looking at the performance, we've really improved a lot since last year. I guess that's what competitions do - they raise your standard.

The best part of the our performance was the last song, a famous Taiwanese hit by Wu Bai. It was great to hear the crowd go wild!

There's a lot to admire from the other groups. MICapella (Singapore) did a really cool version of Linkin Park's "Faint" (loved it!), and of course everybody loved the prize-winning arrangment of the jazz standard "Afro Blue" by Tonalrausch (Germany). Didn't really get to hear the Australian group Suade or HK's Mosaic, though.

Some songs just stick out in my mind - some were performed outside the competition setting (maybe you'll find them on YouTube!):
Tonalrausch - Roads (Portishead)
Soundstage - Everybody Needs Some Love (Soundstage)
Maytree - Turn The Beat Around (Gloria Estefan)