Ritornello '26 ( Dom’s POV )

 Hi, ni hao. Nothing here will be in sequence because my brain doesn’t work that way.

REHEARSALS 

Was informed that we’ll be having our very first alumni concert in March and Dayum, wanna be part of it badly cus trumpet has been rotting for 10 years ya. Also thanks to reservist (SAF Band), I realised even though I don’t particularly enjoy classical music, I still very much love the process of  making it. Bless the rostering gods for giving me off days in Jan and Feb that matched the rehearsal dates.

But what the helly March roster. For context, I’m a cabin crew. I don’t get to decide or choose my off days unless I apply for annual leave which I have to apply 2 months before roster comes out for said month which was too late for me since I already booked my tickets for a Vietnam trip which maxed out my ALs. So I literally had to use money to beg other crews to sell me their off days but guess what? Rehearsal date on the day I bought off days didn’t happen cus teachers were busy on the dates 🥲 GIVE ME BACK MY MONEYYYYYYYYYY

I bidded for off days. 1st priority being concert day itself, and 2nd priority being the rehearsals that committee planned initially before concert day but guess what? They gave me 2nd priority and not my 1st and that rehearsal did not happen. What’s the point ya? 

Rehearsals were awesome. Basically started off sounding like shit. Not remembering musical terminology’s ( me mostly ) I still don’t understand btw. And me busy yapping every single opportunity I can. 

Can someone please do something about the band room’s aircon? 

We started off really strong during the first rehearsal with what I believe, 11 of us(?) making it, but over time the numbers started dropping because adulting and school (cannot relate)

Eventually the numbers went back up and here comes Derek Chloe and Sharlene! Now tell us why do we need 14 trumpeters? Because one Joshua(trumpet god) = 4 trumpeters to balance the sound ya 

Anyway I don’t remember the details of what actually happen during rehearsals other then me being busy yapping and subbing percussions parts with noise when they’re not around. Not forgetting the “blublublu blublublu blublublu blublublu” flute part at the benigining of COME CHRISTIANS JOIN TO SIIIINGGGG! AAAAALLLEEHHHLUUUJAAAHHH ARREGHHHHH MEEEENNNN

Thanks to Tian wei I learnt that I dream a dream in Lesbian has got something to do with prostitution so I’ve been disturbing her  everytime we practice Lesbian during rehearsals with “ YOU’RE NOTHING BUT A PROSTITUTE” Iykyk

She told me is sad, but I only know Susan boyles version so cannot relate leh, sounds like sweet prostitution to me 

Thank you Douglas for channeling ur inner prostitute, times are tough.

Oh there was one day we had supper at Yishun somewhere having prata and Sharlene drove a few of use back home ( Aunty Geraldine and Uncle Dominic ) and almost killed us ( Derek and Chloe too)  maybe twice or thrice idk. Thanks for the ride home but no thanks for reducing my HP. 

While I was away in March busy flying and enjoying life I be shooketh to find out Douglas gor gor did a whole ass seating arrangement for 14 trumpeters for 10 pieces leh!! Dumbf**** like me seriously relied on it very much. He’s more than just a pros-

Btw he got cold sore but I called it herpes I guess maybe he really is just a Pros - 

Also Xie Xie Tian Wei and Wendy jie jie for providing pencils so we can write down notes on scores because uncles and aunties don’t know what technology is. Except GODshua, he’s omnipotent. (Ipad kid) 

Got one day TW came to rehearsals with Financier?? Which is so random but Sedaps, she kept commenting it’s too dry but the hell, it wasn’t. It was sedaps. Also she pronounce it literally as “finance cer” instead of “ fee nun see-aye” u learn something new that day! Huhuhu

Also many times we were starving because rehearsal time just have to be during dinner time so Liang Yun gor gor bought us OCK to makan so we don’die. Sedap la 

Also it’s Zi Wēi not Zì Wěi Dominic 

Edit. Found out on 27th March 5.50pm est its 2nd sound. Never too late. Sorry Ziwei gor gor 

CONCERT DEI

Brother had to work till the wee hours ya and had to arrive later then the rest of the band to the concert hall because no sleep = cannot play. Woke up fresh as hell Cus happy vibes, concert day is always happy vibes. I basically did nothing, ask where the stage pass was, and entered the venue looking at some of them heading up and downs the stairs doing morning PT because apparently the holding room wasn’t open so we ended up placing our stuff at the concert hall itself before we start sound check. Then i whipped out my 15 trumpet pin that i bought from shopee ( the main reason why i must perform for the concert(?) ) and pass it to everyone because if I don’t, I might not even pass it to them before concert starts. 

Anyway we got ready, tuned up blah blah then what the helly, we basically played a whole ass concert pre concert. I guess we also had some sort of pride instead of playing an octave lower to rest, no. We just kept playing the way it should be because we think too highly of ourselves because uk, AMKSSB pride. 

Joel gor gor was chase out of the hall to play his solo and as per my friends comment who knows nothing about music “sound like elephant leh” girl u the elephant 

Apparently got some band drama happening behind the scenes which idk la but I hope I get to sip on some goood matcha strawberry tea soon.

Then then we were having lunch. As per usually we were busy yapping, Suddenly Douglas gor gor came in with a strawberry shortcake and the section started singing happy birthday to which I join in casually not knowing I’m one of them because that’s how my brain works ya. Then to the end someone mention March babies so, more cake for me? Then me having no hand and brains coordination skills while trying to cut the cake, I gave Wendy’s dress some white ornaments ( whip cream ) maybe because I thought her dress was boring idk. The cake very nice leh. For reference it’s from Henri Charpentier. Sharlene also mentioned it’s from Sabrina Carpenter. Take that hoewever u will. 

I ke kiang go play sinphonia, Singapore Flyer’s etc before concert starts because my ADHD brain suddenly “Eh lemme kick in some muscle memory for ya”

So I basically struggled with tuning C when concert starts lor and u know how that goes~ 

Also this concert abit too lepak ah? I be using phone throughout all my rest ( basically my friends came late la so need to communicate with them )

Brando cried post WHAV. Geraldine jie jie dk huhu

Halfway through for some reason I decided to watch igs during concert and saw that Ahn Hyung Min Hyung ( yes he’s older than us ) in Sg So I jokingly told him to watch the concert leh and he actually turn up??? Bless you 

Thank you Yu Qing Jie jie and committee for making this happen leh, if not who??? When?? How??? 

Brandon, Douglas, Joel and GODshua for tanking a lot of first.

Tian Wei, Geraldine, Wendy, Xingni, for always entertaining my yaps, if not joining in to Yap with me.

Derek, Chloe, Sharlene for lowering the average age

Liangyun for always being the zen one provided us OCK 

Zi Wei for somehow being a form of entertainment for the things he does LOL.

See you next year - Brando Tan 

No pics because nobody needs more of the same pics tenkssssssssssss byeeeeeeee