Yeah I love this quote, even if it doesn't really have anything with what I'm about to post today or the title of my post.Heh. Ok so today's topic: Taifeng, Zhiyin, CO. Yeah with 2 days left, the clock is ticking down on what is RVCO's sporadic concert, sometimes held once every 2 years, sometimes 3, but each time, an invaluable experience for its members, batch after batch. As an alumni, I am no longer performing with the CO, but have come back to do backstage duties along side fellow alumni. On a reflective note, I have seen how the orchestra has matured as we draw closer and closer to this breathtaking event. I've seen their pain, their excitement, their happiness and their worries as Zhiyin looms over the horizon.

Taifeng has been the main conversational topic of note recently, with many in the orchestra fearing that they are too "stone" and are not doing enough for the performance part of this musical performance. Well, that can be partly attributed to the seniors, whom constantly remind our juniors to do taifeng, even though well haha I guess its a pretty hard skill to learn. But regardless of that, taifeng is no doubt important but cannot be taught in the traditional sense of the word. As I have always said, feel the music, and taifeng will come naturally and in its most beautiful form. Of course, abstractness is hardly going to help now, but I guess that's really the only way I can express Taifeng.

On to Zhiyin. Seeing as the fourth installment of this concert is almost upon us, it made me think a lot, about what zhiyin really means to us, to RVCO. Like i said in my last post about Zhiyin, I doubt if anyone really remembered the origin of Zhiyin. Haha. But Zhiyin is after all, zhiyin and I guess that it is so much more than just a concert to RVCO. It is a rite of passage, a ceremony that inducts you formally into RVCO proper, even more than the orientation camps or welcome ceremonies or what not. The blood,toil, tears and sweat of our members as they practice and practice hard for Zhiyin is indeed no small feat. It is what bonds the orchestra together, even as it may divide some. But Zhiyin, zhiyin transcends all boundaries. It links the orchestra together, and is probably the most important event in an RVCO member's life in RVCO next to the bi-annual SYF.

On to CO. CO. RVCO. Chinese Orchestra. River Valley Chinese Orchestra. Well ok as you can see from the repititions I'm running out of inspiration for this post. Well, I shall end with RVCO. Countless seniors have once said..."RVCO一代不如一代". Pardon any cuo bie zi. Yes, I must admit, I was once part of this cynical bunch. When I came back to watch last year's SYF hopefuls in action, I was doubtful of their potential to get Gold With Honors, to surpass us in the SYF. Against all odds, they proved me wrong. If there's one thing I've learnt from this, its what really characterizes the RVCO spirit, in my opinion. RVCO, really, what characterizes us is a never-say-die attitude that sees our potential rise exponentially and dramatically in the last few time periods prior to our performances, breaking through the invisible barrier that we have set for ourselves and proving all our doubters wrong.

So, to end this post. My juniors, Zhiyin is once again upon us. Will it surpass the previous one? Only YOU can affect that. Only you can decide the fate of this concert. So no pressure, enjoy the music, the performance, and trust in yourselves!