Been a while

Been a while since I last updated, well a few days at least. The truth is, because I was too busy. So I will talk about the things that happened since 30th Nov.

30th Nov. Well the silly piano trio is performed again, this time in Taylors high school graduation. Dickson, Derrick and I had to go back to Taylors on that day to do the pieces. Since they had the party at Dennis' the night before, they were too so sleepy. I went back home so it was ok, they, on the other hand, slept at 7-ish and had to wake up at like 10. Derrick looked like he would die at any time soon. Anyway, the three of us played well and it was well received (with lots of shouts and laughters). After that, we went down to see Mario's car. It was cool! Ford and it's a proper racing car! Maan, and he is gonna get a racing license!

Anyway, at night, Joel, his bro, Edward and I went to watch MCR concert. I, being too smart, saw the door which said no cameras allowed etc., so I told them not to bring cameras. ARGH, you can! So no good photos at all of me in my first rock concert. Oh well, but it was awesome! Except for the fact that my ears and eyes were totally damaged.

So anyway, Yenny added me on MSN at night (maybe it was Saturday night) when I was supposed to practice for my DipABRSM exam on Monday (today) and write the programme notes. And she gave me even more work: compose an invention for the piano for a TV thing. I am not even sure, she said it's the scene where two guys talk in a lounge and a classical pianist just comes in and play invention in Bach style... Why invention? I don't know. So, due to the heavy DipABRSM load, I postponed the composition.

The next day, Sunday, is the concert day! Messiah, at Town Hall. Undeniably, it was not as good as the one in the Opera House would be, but it was awesome! It was fun and especially the Hallelujah Chorus! The audiences stood up. I was enjoying myself singing the Bass part as well as meaning what I sing and worshipping God. It was just so nice! And I played the organ during rehearsal break! w00t w00t! I tried the pipe organ! Now, that made me want to learn it!

At night, I skipped church again... Sigh, I felt so bad! But I had to to finish writing my programme notes and to.... guess what? Learn a piece, I mean, a totally new piece, for my 4th piece. I choosed Rachmaninoff's Elegy (Op.3 No.1). I was so frustrated especially because despite the fact I tried to tell Cindy, Melvin and Susan that I need to practice this piece, the still gossiped so loud at the back. Laughing in the middle of an Elegy, not cool! Especially the silence part after the climax (where there is a slight silence), Melvin shouted, "What? Incest!?" And it was recorded... How annoying. But I managed to play through the Elegy, it was only later on I try to interpret it nicely.

Monday, which is today! My DipABRSM exam! Queenie and I met at Circular Quay and went to the con together. The purpose: borrow books for the exam. Yes, indeed, very last minute and disorganised. That is us! Especially me. But we found the books that we needed quickly, especially me because I already looked for the call numbers at home. After that, we marched to scaffold: St. Laurence Arts Centre, where our examination took place. The examiner was young, and she was very friendly albeit examiner-like. Queenie did her's well, and I didn't do mine as well as her. Oh well, that's for not practicing but at least I could play through it better than I thought I would.

After that we went to eat, I was planning to go for capoeira so I went back home at 4:20. But by the time I arrived it was over 5 pm and it would be too late to go there. So I decided to compose Yenny's stuff. And I did. And I recorded it too. But it was unsuitable for the scene. So I don't care anymore.

Anyway, what a long blog today, I wonder who would even be bothered to read it.

More Exams...

Yes, I do look happy, don't I, Steph... But MORE EXAMS!!!! Tomorrow. Derrick just called me after his audition, which went bad according to him, which means it went all right. So, he told me that I can take the musicianship test tomorrow. Queenie, Derrick, Dickson and I already confirmed that we are doing it tomorrow. Nicola and Andrew, don't know yet, but they will most likely be doing it tomorrow at 1pm too.

Derrick mentioned to me that there are a lot of people who are interviewing for the composition program too. I am now a bit worried, but I will leave it to God. I'll do my best and it is His choice whether He wants me to do composition here or not.

Alright, on to the next topic, going to Mario's pizzeria tomorrow! After the bloody exam! Grr. Yeah, it's gonna be cool! Hooray! At least for a while.

Doesn't matter, I'll try to go to the beach again today... =p

Piano Exam and Andreas' Last CG This Year

Piano exam... Was pretty exciting actually. I was pretty ok I guess. Toccata was bad though. The last part just messed the entire performance. Liszt was terrific and Mozart was good. We overheard Mr. Wu's conversation with the Con's guy regarding our marks. Apparently I got 25/30 while Queenie got 25.5/30. Haha. For mine, 7.5/10 for Bach, 9/10 for Liszt and 8.5/10 for Mozart. Should have played something I am familiar with, then I might get an extra mark or something =p

Well I am glad that everything is done! After all these, Dickson and I went to Zhu Mama Restaurant thing to eat. It was pretty good IMO. I was really full though.

Then I went to Darling Harbour to have our Connect Group. Andreas' last one before he goes back to Sweden.

Two things happened with the mostly-drunk high school people who were having formals (prom).

Firstly, a guy borrowed Gary's skateboard and handed Gary his booze. Then went on doing flips etc, before finally destroying Gary's skateboard, one wheel came off.

Discussing about Gary's skate?

Well of course Gary got pretty upset and rattled on the whole night about how destroyed his skateboard is.

And then, after the skateboard incident, suddenly I heard a big thump on my left and when I turned my head to the left, I saw this.

Fainted!

Yep, a girl fainted and I am pretty sure (1000%) that it was caused by the bottle of alcohol she held when she fell down. Well, heaps happened in between. Marli, Andreas and a lady tried to help her. A guy came to call the ambulance. But her mates were like, "no don't call the ambulance, don't ****-ing call anyone," etc. And they made her stand up and said nothing is wrong with her and it is normal. Well, then a big huge guy (one of them) came and carried her away.

Kids these days... tsk tsk tsk... So irresponsible. Marli and Andreas (and the other lady) were trying their best to convince them to take her to hospital to at least get her checked (because she fell from a higher place). Oh and Amanda was calling someone already. But these people just don't care about their friend I guess.

After that we went to the foodcourt, not to eat but to talk (only Anggi ate). And then we prayed as usual and took photos.

Here are some photos taken today.

More can be seen at http://gallery.mac.com/steventanoto

While waiting for everyoneAndreas, David and I


Andreas and I


One big happy combined CG-family!

As for the next connectgroup, I am the new leader, but I hope I can have combined CG with Marli.

Messiah Chorus Practice

After the going-to-the-beach incident, I went to choir practice. The choir seemed so unusually extra draggy all the time tonight. It's almost like the accompanist and the conductor was beating a few millisecond before us (well of course due to the fact that we are slow).

Well, the usual stuff happened, we practiced the whole thing and it ended gorgeously at the Amen Fugue. Oh how I love the music! So, next practice on Saturday will be at Shore School together with everyone! All the massed choir, I think there are two more venues till today, so it should be a lot of people!

I am not exactly excited or looking forward to tomorrow's piano practical. I haven't practiced at all and it is going to be a miracle if I can pull through it without a mess. But I am expecting a miracle! *wishful thinking* And I'm going to thank God for that first! Haha.

Cooking for lunch tomorrow. Should be good, hopefully it's not uncooked.

ST

Music theory exam yesterday... ugh, I lost like 4 marks coz of a silly mistake! Italian 6th, and I wrote Neapolitan 6th. Doesn't matter.

Anyway, aside from the fact that I bought 3 DVDs and I bought a book, today was a pretty uneventful day. Boring indeed. Morning was spent playing the fightclub stuff on facebook and chatted away with my mates.

I don't even know what to do tomorrow, besides the 10 hour piano practice of course *cough cough*.

Oh yeah, Powerhouse yesterday was awesome too, Carl Lenz brought the word. He is from the US. Said something about how to keep being passionate. And touched the topic "Your Mama".

I'm currently composing a Requiem, I guess I'm on to that "morbid" mood again. But honestly, I enjoy being morbid! It's lovely. Not only that, it feels good being melancholic. I enjoy being sad too. There is this strong fire that burns in my heart when I feel so, and it feels somewhat "pleasurable". lol, whatever. First part done, Requiem Aeternam.

Alright, will cya on the next post then. I'm going to watch my movie!

Monday's Exams

Today, had two three-hour exams! On top of that a three hour rehearsal on Messiah.

Anyway, exams feedback first. It was great! They were pretty easy, as in I could write most and I could answer most problems. Pretty great! Indeed! Because I honestly did not do much revising.

Messiah! Great, we did the whole thing again, but in slightly better detail. It was fun.

And now here I am, updating at 2:16AM! Aiyo!!!!! Gotta sleep.

Movie Watched: Sunshine
Movie Watching: Elizabeth
Movie to be Watched: Elizabeth, the wateva age.

Maths and Australian Studies

Hey, updating to tell you guys that church was awesome! Catherine Caine spoke and the praise n worship was beautiful.

Hmm, somehow I'm not studying for exams well. But somehow I feel pretty confident! I think it's because I'm a happy-go-lucky person that doesn't even realise that I'm going to die tomorrow during the exam. But, I'll be fine, and I know it!

Because I have a lively heart and spirit and I am not listening to the voices of worry and negativity!

Oh well, I'm going to sleep now. G'nite

ST

Exams

Alright, time to start studying, no?
I am going to die on Monday if I don't.

Alright then. Wish me all the best!

Exams

I decided to use blogspot again. For some unknown reason.

Today's the first day of exams! Well, only English but still. Instead of reading on the topics or the template for discussion essay etc., I am on blogspot making a new blog. How ridiculous.

Anyway, Rachmaninoff 3 concert tonight. It's going to be pretty interesting. Can't wait to watch that (with Anggi and Queenie).

Powerhouse two days ago was madness. Kudzi was there, that's why. During praise, the moss pit was crazier than usual. Kudzi even asked me to go on the stage and jump to the crowds; so I did, crowd surfed all right.

The worship is also phenomenal, I don't know why but it was different.

Anyway, that's all for this morning.