today's choir prac was sigh again a tiring one. but hey i thought it's time i wrote this over-due message..

to the most dearest bunch of cjc choir people:

It's been a long journey together since we started out as a batch (for the J2s 2006') last year till today, really. Things have really changed and now that we're in the charge of a new conductor and with the new intake of our lovable and very capable J1s with us onboard, life is definitely, going to be more fun, but tougher as well.

Whatever happened today, please don't take it so hard or as a personal attack for some of you (IF there is any). Each choir definitely has had their fair shares of scoldings and all, just please don't get upset or worried, i guess it's time we had a really good wake up call but it's for the better alright?

heys J2s, pls don't get upset or angry with anyone or whatever has happened so far, don't lose hope. I'm sure you must have noticed how much we have progressed since last year and that is a very positive sign. We've all worked so hard to get to where we are, worked so hard to gel with one another, try to accomodate each one's strengths and weaknesses. By now I suppose everyone would know that singing, rather music has no definite demarcated space. There's always something new to learn, a new song, a new technique of singing and finding your voice, a new style of singing etc and we really gotta try to keep up. Be consistent. I know many of you are trying very hard and I say kudos to all you who are trying but to all those (to everyone) who have been slacking a little I guess maybe it's time to sit down and reflect a bit.

No one said it was going to be easy, success will come and I know we all want it. We want respect, we want ultimately to leave CJC and most importantly CJC choir holding our heads high and be proud to say we've done the school, our conductor, our teachers-in-charge and mostly importantly, your friends and YOURSELF proud.

You're all doing this for yourselves too, we all love singing :) and that's the reason why we're still here right? Don't ever feel discouraged or feel like you're too tired to try again, we'll all hold each other up when we've fallen, at least I know I'll try to be there for anyone at all. Let's make this a good year, and hopefully the Prague trip will come true, our first overseas trip to anywhere at all, our first honour at representing Singapore and the school, for our first exposure overseas. We're really the pioneers! So don't, don't don't be the least disheartened. We've held on for so long together as one batch, fallen, got up, encouraged each other before, let's keep it going yea? :)

and hey to our new J1s, you guys are a lucky bunch of people to be able to be working under such a great conductor like mr toh. You're a very talanted and very fun-loving bunch of people who help to lift spirits of the choir up and I'm sure the rest of the J2s would second to that too. Next year's SYF year and it means that training will be much tougher after the J2s leave and you guys will be all on your own. i really hope that you guys will also not be discouraged by whatever everyone thinks of our choir, so what if we are a silver choir? Remember, it's not the size or name of the choir, it's how much you can touch someone's heart with your music and convey your message to them. It's about how much you can use music to mould someone's heart, to make them love what you're doing even if just for that moment, when you've captured that magical moment. I'm sure it'll make you happy to see people smile when we sing well right? The satisfaction, the pride.. Make use of your strong bonds between your batch to push each other on, to wait up for others and to learn to give way and take courage to initiate when others are afraid or are tired to carry on. I have a lot of faith in you guys, the last thing you'd want to do is to disappoint yourselves. :)

To all you guys, it doesn't matter if you have prior musical background or not, we must be living proofs of our determination to want to learn and never be complacent. We may be a small choir yes, but our passion to sing definitely isn't as meagre. That doesn't stop us from being good too. Don't have to compare with others, just do your best and the rest will come. Don't ever think we're lousy or it'll be equivalent to losing half the battle. As what I always tell my choir back in sec school, it's MENTAL STRENGTH that is the key factor here, also with diligence can we reach that level of musicality we're seeking for. We have to open to all sorts of criticisms, learn from it and improve. We are instruments ourselves and everyone has their own specialities in vocals and all, and I know we can all make music that touches hearts if we all combine as one.

I just hate to see you all so down. Cheer ups, CJ choir will pull through all odds together. Don't give up on yourselves when no one has given up on us yet guys.
lastly..
----A VERY BIG HUG TO ALL OF YOU! ---- i love you all
we're going to be just right, you'll see :)

luv,
xxxo cheryl oxxx