緣份

Performance for HKUST Class of 1999 Reunion (22 Aug)
香港科技大學1999年畢業生聚會表演 (8月22日)

誰可意料到10年後的今天，你和你的朋友會變成怎樣？

很難得可以為科大99年的畢業生表演
這次表演對我來說特別有意義

小弟是今年09年的畢業生
在科大讀了3年書，亦在melody makers唱了3年a cappella，
但未曾在學校表演過a cappella
跟平常的一些私人聚會不一樣 ，這次能夠在自己讀書的地方，
為一班師兄師姐，還有即將離開香港的朱經武校長表演，
實在覺得很榮幸

這次，99年的alumni開了22圍
地點是－－南北！
難以置信！南北居然可以塞到22圍，而且座無虛席，還可搭到一個台！
從未想像過在Atrium、LG4 Common Room和LG7以外的地方表演

10年
不少畢業生都已經成家立室
有些還帶著老婆老公囝囝囡囡來聚餐
訴說近況，家庭、工作、八卦之事無所不談
學術研究，經驗交流，回味當年之趣事
這顯然是我幻想出來的片段，我又怎會曉得別人在談什麼？
我只是在想，假若10年後，即09年畢業生"re-u"的時候
也該是這樣子的吧

借用柴九在電視劇中的名言：人生有多少個10年？
光陰似箭，要好好珍惜身邊的每一位朋友
今天能聚首一堂，是巧合，是緣份，也是福氣（很玄...）

15分鐘的表演時間
演唱了叉燒包（有真包！）、Hey Jude和We'll Meet Again

在此憑歌寄意 ♪We'll Meet Again
希望各屆畢業生都能帶著笑臉離開校園，在不久將來再次見面
也盼望朱校長可以在空閒的時候回來科大，探望大家

♪ We'll Meet Again  (text Ross Parker, Hughie Charles)

We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when,
But I know we'll meet again, some sunny day.
Keep smiling through, just like you always do,
'Til the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away. 

p.s.很久沒有打過書面語，平常都是打口語的多。所謂「潛水怕屈機」，都係潛水先！請各位多多包涵！

澳門之旅 - 粵澳名優商品展銷會

粵澳名優商品展銷會 (7月30-8月2日)

好榮幸我們獲粵澳名優商品展銷會邀請到場表演，連續兩天的表演之餘，我們都非常開心地渡過了這兩天愉快的旅程。稍後再為大家送上不同的照片，敬請留意!

-simon

Stanley Prison

What do you do with the rest of your life if it's going to be spent in prison?

My first-ever prison visit at Stanley today, for a music sharing session with Christian fellowship convicts with Ms. Nancy Loo.

Stanley Prison is one of the few maximum security prisons for male convicts (I know of only one other, Shek Pik). Of course there was a lot of security; we probably had to walk through at least seven locked/monitored gates in order to get to the activity room.

We went into one of the Category A (ie. the most dangerous) prisoner blocks, where the convicts live in single cells. I got to see bars, bars and more bars. Basketball courts with bars. Bars and locked doors. Loss of freedom, loss of possessions, loss of choice. Even the brands of shavers and notebooks and mosquito patches are regulated. How do you live the rest of life like that?

The first thing I realized upon seeing them - they're real people! They're not monsters that you only see bound and covered on the TV screen. Granted, they were convicted of the most ghastly of crimes, but people tend to forget that they're living persons with physiological needs and psychological struggles and dreams and aspirations as well... but really, what use are those in a prison?

These people have stayed for ten, twenty years, with little hope of being set free. The phases of anger, denial, depression, hope, acceptance, calm, meaninglessness and more have all been experienced several times already. Many know that their parents will pass away before they're allowed out of prison. I'm lost... What's the meaning of living in such a place?

I understand why these prisoners hold onto their faith - it's one of the few things can remain constant in such a harsh environment.

Once you realize that the power to choose can be taken away from you...
Cherish what you have, and take responsibility for the choices that you can make.

朱元雷老師訪港並親授大師班!

其實朱大哥在昨天(星期6)已經來到香港為我們青年協會所舉辦的A cappella比賽做評審。今天下午，朱大哥在浸會大學親自介紹了各地a cappella的大型比賽及節目並舉行了大師班。過程中，朱大哥提到很多唱好a cappella的重點以及特別需要注意的地方。例如，和聲的重要性、balance、groove之類的東西。尤以提及怎樣有groove及令歌曲更有感染力最為impressive。(在我而言)真的要在此多謝朱大哥，獲益良多呢! 我們10月又會再見面，希望到時可以再跟他學多點，聽多一點。

HKFYG 2009 a cappella Festival Music Contest

The HKFYG 2009 a cappella Festival Music Contest was held today in Typhoon Signal Number 3 weather.

Being MC of a competition is HARD! First of all, we only got the script on the morning of the competition, so preparation time was very limited. We also didn't know what each group was going to sing. Furthermore, there were many non-planned events that required quick thinking (such as dragging out the intermission time between two competition groups; time-filling in the looooong break while the judges were deliberating the results; last-minute changes in rundown etc). In addition, it seems that you have to be very careful not to say anything that could be construed as favorable to any particular group. Then you have to pay attention to diction and fluidity, and watch your language... Anyway, I still think we did quite well under these circumstances, regardless of what others might say.

As for the competition, it was a pleasant surprise. Thirteen groups competed today (it was supposed to be nineteen, but a few dropped out after their school was hit by H1N1 Influenza A), and there were good things to see. Of course some were not good, but a lot of the groups were impressive. It's very exciting to see the sheer number of high school students that are enthusiastic about a cappella singing. I was quite impressed by a high school girl's statement: "We'll definitely be back next year." Perhaps this will start a new wave of secondary school vocal groups, who knows?

The Open Division competitors were also good. Some have improved vastly compared to a few months ago (when they had attended masterclasses), and there's a lot to admire: simple/effective staging, a really young vocal percussionist, and interesting arrangements.

This competition shows that there's a lot of untapped talent and potential out there. It also means that other groups are catching up fast... we'd better work harder.

See you next year!


-by Ju

奧比斯學生大使運動

9 Jul 2009










這天我們在東港城為「奧比斯學生大使運動」頒獎典禮唱了兩首勵志歌。原來有一群熱心公益的中學生在校內舉辦了一連串的活動, 為眼疾人士籌款。其中一項很有創意的是「摸黑晚餐」, 印象甚深。學生大使和總師令王苑之分享了他們去年探訪印度眼科醫院的體驗, 啟發人生。希望大家也能熱心公益, 關懷社會。



雖然王苑之當日冇唱歌, 聽唔到佢把靚聲, 但至少可以影到張合照, 哈哈~

RTHK2 Jingle "Way Back Into Love"

今天整天都在錄音，終於完全錄音的工作。這次錄音的效果還不錯!

只是今天錄音過程中出了一段小小的插曲，錄出來的tracks有很多沙沙的聲音。最終基寶發現兇手是什麼了，原來是他的headphone。 (都弄了好一陣子)