Proud of a Talent... Proud of a Song...

He is someone funny, crappy and 'spastic'; someone who is very mundane and down-to-earth; someone who is well-versed with TV commercial songs and dialogs; someone who is very gifted in music; someone who can play many many musical instruments; YES!!! He is the special someone of AJC(AAC)O - Tan Kah Yong (14th Batch AJCO Erhu/Sanxian/Dizi/Ruan player).

(Left): Aiyoh! Kah Yong... Please take more photos can? Always using this picture for all the concert programme booklets... Diaox!

Proud of a Talent:

I remember when I was in AJCO year 1, our orchestra tried to play a few special arrangements. Most of them were products of Tan Kah Yong. They include "细水长流", "I Believe" and "Titanic". If you asked him for those scores, he will do the Gatsby commercial signature move - placing his palms on his face and rubbing in embarrassment while saying "那些是我乱乱写的啦".

It is always his dream to arrange/compose something for CO. After a few attempts of "乱乱写", he finally came up with his maiden arrangement - "Dango Sankyodai" which has been performed by SCO, NUSCO and RVCO (and subsequently the scores were taken to China by some CO enthusiasts).

As his friend and his kopitiam kaki, I am proud that he has become very successful in this area. I went for most of the CO concerts which featured his arrangments/compositions. Most recently, he has arranged a song "Guitar On Fire" - A Flaming Hot Latino Music for Zhang Rong Hui Laoshi's Ruan Ensemble. It was so well-received that it was featured both as the concert item and the encore piece. After these concerts, people will be rushing to find the concert soloists to sign on their programme booklets while I will find Kah Yong for his autograph (you all should start doing it because Kah Yong will be very famous... Or rather is already famous).


Proud of a Song:

Though he has arranged so many musical pieces, AJCO and AJCAACO did not get a chance to perform songs arranged by our own talent (Its really a pity!!!). On the 18th August, AJCAACO has finally gotten a chance to perform his creation on stage - "Euphony of Bonds Across Time". Though some people might treat it as merely another musical composition, I took pride in this song and wanted every second of　it to be well-played. This song really conjures up memories of my 2 years in AJC(O). An excellent composition that captures the essence of the AJC(O) Spirit by playing around with snippets of "Non-Mihi Solum".

In 2008, Kah Yong might be helping AJCO to compose another musical piece and improve on "Euphony of Bonds Across Time"... 请大家期待！　


Kah Yong's Music Profile:

Having been studying piano since the tender age of four, Kah Yong’s contact with the Chinese Orchestral circle began in 1997 when he joined the Anderson Junior College Chinese Orchestra as an Erhu player, thereafter picking up sanxian and has been the Principal Sanxian player of the People’s Association Youth Chinese Orchestra (PAYCO) since 1997.

Being a music enthusiast, he studied orchestral arrangement and composition under the tutelage of Law Wai Lun and had received guidance from Yeo Puay Hian and Sim Boon Yew, both currently appointed as Arranger-in-Residence in the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO). He has been actively involved in arranging and composing for SCO as well as many amateur Orchestras.

Kah Yong’s maiden arrangement “Dango Sankyodai” surfaced in 2002 and has since been a regular repertoire of several overseas Chinese Orchestras in China, Taiwan and local orchestras including River Valley High Chinese Orchestra (RVCO), National University of Singapore Chinese Orchestra (NUSCO) in addition to the SCO. This lively arrangement was performed as the closing piece by RVCO in the 2005 Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) Chinese Orchestra Presentation. Besides, a couple of his commissioned works were used by Keming and Chongfu Primary to compete in the 2006 bi-annual SYF Chinese Orchestra Competition.

In February this year, his mentor Mr. Law and himself became pioneers to pen music for the newly formed SCO Pop Ensemble during the “SCO Goes Pop!” concert which featured a collaboration between both of them. Together, they fused traditional Chinese music with pop and also revolutionised the way pop music can be performed by a Chinese instrumental ensemble as well as the full Chinese Orchestra.

(Top:) Picture taken from Singapore Chinese Orchestra Co Ltd Annual Report 2005. This picture shows the SCO Pop Ensemble playing Tan Kah Yong's arrangment "北京一夜" or "One Night In Beijing" in the "SCO Goes Pop!" concert.

Versatile in his arrangement, he was commissioned in 2003 by the Kent Ridge Xin Yun Quintet to explore and create several pieces tailor-fitted specially for the group. His innovative rendition of ‘Londonderry Air’ was premiered in South Africa when the Quintet staged a concert there in mid 2004. This piece was also recorded into an album featuring the ensemble.

Anderson Junior College Chinese Orchestra and Symphonic Band held a combined orchestral performance at the Esplanade in 2004 and 2005. Kah Yong was approached by his alma-mater to arrange for both orchestras to perform harmoniously together. This piece was presented in both years’ concerts.

Apart from Chinese Orchestral and Symphonic Band arrangements, he was commissioned by the People’s Association Cultural Troupe (PACT) to write several pieces for a combined Chinese, Malay and Indian Orchestra “Soundwaves II” concert last year, encompassing the 3 races’ ethnic traditional instruments. They were very well received.

A pianist himself, Kah Yong is currently a resident arranger for Music Design Pte Ltd and has since published several piano song books including the popular ‘Romantic Contemporary Hits’, ‘TV & Movie Themes’ and ‘Mega Starz Hitz’ series.

Synopsis of "Euphony of Bonds Across Time"

8 years after I have graduated from Anderson Junior College (AJC), a visit to my alma mater brought back strong feelings of the signature AJ spirit – an everlasting solidarity within the AJC family.

Euphony of Bonds Across Time is composed to evoke the sweet sentiments of homecoming and nostalgia by engaging the AJC school song as the main theme and the counterpoint to the melody. The sense of attachment and the lingering memories for the college are portrayed by the echoing of ‘Non Mihi Solum’ at the end of the musical piece.

Especially dedicated to AJC Chinese Orchestra and everyone else who forms part of the AJC Family – past, present and future, this musical piece is composed “not for myself alone” – ‘Non Mihi Solum’.

@@@ Written by Kah Yong@@@

"Thank You Kah Yong for writing AJCO and AJCAACO
a special musical piece that is only exclusive to us.
We are definitely proud of the song" - Zhiliang

The Reunion - An Intimate Concert for AJCAACO...

The concert was excellent...

The performers were skilled...

The repertoire was splendid...

The venue was high-class...

The applause was loud...

But at the end of the "Ruan Ensemble in Concert" directed by Zhang Rong Hui Laoshi, I prefer our own reunion concert held just a day before. I have come to realize that the success of a concert cannot be weighed simply by the usual emphasis on the professionalism of performers, the venue setting etc. Intimacy can form the most crucial factor determining a concert's success.

The Reunion - A concert held in the cheapest venue ever - AJC school auditorium. Despite that, the concert is a huge success. The neighbourhood, the down-to-earth and the grassroot culture of AJC is something special; something not many other JC students can experience; something that has brought ex-AJCians together to watch a simple concert specially put up for them. As a part of the AJC family, this distinctive culture applies to AJC(AAC)O as well. It is this culture that creates an intimate bonding among the (former) AJCO members.

(Top): AJCAACO performing "Euphony of Bonds Across Time".

(Top): Lena and her 'grapes' performing 葡萄熟了. Performers like Peijun (14th Batch AJCO Yangqin player) has never touched Yangqin for almost 5 years but yet came down to help.

(Top): See how happy both the audiences and the performers of AJCCACO and ex-AJCO members are. Wonder what we were shouting? 要拼才会赢 in Hokkien!!! This is the first ever photograph that depicts AJCO batches ranging from the 8th to the 23rd AJCO. A very special moment captured in time within the borders of a photograph.

An Intimate Concert:

An oxymoronic feeling of bitter-sweetness can be felt on the 18th August 2007 - the bitterness of missing the fun we had in AJC(O); the sweetness of remembering the times we used to have in AJC(O) and reminiscing the happy memories. Browsing through the old photos and the CO room antiques on display, it is just hard to forget the times we had in AJCO. A bunch of CO alumni (Xinyi, Xueling, Cai Hong etc) came down with their graduation gown and (re)capture CO memories with their cameras.

Throughout the entire day, many self-initiated activities were going on. Some of them were playing the retro game "大风吹" during the break between the matinée and the evening concert; Some of them were doing weird 'rituals' (like Siqiang practicing 玉女神剑); There are even CO Alumni torturing people (Tat Kuan and Lijia were trying out 两马分尸 on Qi Ling)； Performers taking a "五连拍" etc etc. There was even a last minute sabotage on Chen Laoshi - asking him to sing 要拼才会赢 on stage.

Pictures show a thousand words... Here they are:

(Top): Kah Yong didn't get enough sleep at home as usual (probably arranging/composing songs for some other orchestras). Poor Kah Yong! He wasn't spared to just take a short nap. Siqiang (13th batch Zhongruan Player) took hold of the cello bow and practiced his 玉女剑法 on Kah Yong.


(Top): Poor Qi Ling... Another victim of two martial arts experts... Lijia and Tat Kuan just mastered the skill 两马分尸 and Qi Ling became their guinea pig.

(Top Left and Right): Serene practicing another unknown, long-lost martial arts. Biao Yi and Qi Ling copying Serene? They look scandalous in this pose!!! Definitely intimate!!! YUCKS!!!

(Top): 第零拍... Look how cute we are! Muahaha!!!

(Top): 第一拍... Still very cute right?

(Top): 第二拍... Cute? No! Disgusting for those who stuck their fingers into their nose. Creative though...

(Top): 第三拍... Look at Siqiang... He 走火入魔 after intensive practices on his 玉女剑法.

(Top): 第四拍... So many people still obsessed with saluting... Haiz... Siqiang is still a bit sot sot de!!!

(Top): 第五拍... We are SCO... Spastic Chinese Orchestra!!!

The Reunion:

A Simple and Intimate Combined Concert... A Down-to-Earth Cultural Performance... A Day of Nostalgic High (I quote Xiuqin)... A Bunch of Special Friends (Like a Bunch of Grapes)... A Special Marriage Proposal... A Euphony of Bonds Across Time...

@@ AJCAACO - An Intimately Bonded Chinese Orchestra @@
~ Ah Liang ~

18岁狂想曲 - AJCO Heritage Exhibition

《18岁狂想曲》

那是何等的青春年少，我们用青春谱写生命的旋律。

欢腾的快板，我们一起敲奏喜悦。

悠扬的慢板，我们合奏绵绵情韵。

让一个个跳动的音符定格，纪念我们永远的18岁。

### 苏健伟 ###

The Exhibition Theme:

18岁狂想曲 is the theme of the AJCO Heritage Exhibition held on the 18th August 2007 in conjunction with the ReUnion Concert (Alumni Cultural Performance). Jianwei (13th batch Pipa Player) came up with this excellent theme for the exhibition. Reading this poetic depiction of the exhibition conjures up memorable moments we kept preciously in our hearts.

In August 18th 2007 (when we gathered to watch The Reunion), the alumni members of AJCO ranges from 30+ years old to 10+ years old. There are those born in the 1960s, 70s and 80s (the current AJCO JC1 juniors are born in 1990). However, one common element binds us together - We were all 18 when we shared our laughters, tears and sweat in AJCO. Thus, Jianwei came up with these beautiful words as the exhibition theme description.

The Artefacts:

The exhibition consists of a display of 'historical' artefacts. Upon seeing the ancient CO room desk, the lop-sided conductor stand, the 'splinter-ful' drum stick and the old music files, the 'older generation' AJCO peeps managed to recapture a plethora of AJCO memorable images (and sounds). The valuable 'antiques' face the danger to be deemed as rubbish by others. Last Friday, the school servant threw the old CO desk into the rubbish chute while a few of us went in search for it to retrieve it back.

Stories Behind the Antiques:

Desk from the former Chinese Orchestra Practice Studio
"Back in the days when the Chinese Orchestra practice studio was situated at level one, our conductor, Mr. Ng Seng Hong, used to sit behind this desk, drumming the edges of the desk with a drum stick, while the orchestra members play to its rhythm. After more than 10 years of repeated hitting, the edges of the desk are chipped and splintered. The chipped edges were repeatedly covered in masking tape to prevent people from getting hurt by splinters. Currently, the desk is enjoying its retirement at an obscure corner in the present CO practice studio".

Lopsided Conductor Music Stand and Broken Drum Stick:
"This conductor music stand has borne the weight of countless heavy conductor scores for more than 10 years. It has also withstood the ‘abuse’ of Mr. Ng and the various student conductors as they drum the rhythm on the conductor stand using the drum stick. Now, the music stand has problems standing straight and the drum stick is irrevocably fractured".

The Forgotten Music Files:
"The grey music files once stood proudly on the music stands of many SYF competitions. Now, the grayish out-of-fashion files lies neglected in the CO store room".

Some nice graffiti left by AJCO (Alumni) peeps
(8th batch - 24th batch):

(Top): The signatures of our friends from AJCO (Alumni)

(Top): One of the first few signatures. It is my beautiful signature. Yeah!!! However, 16th batch didn't manage to get a gold award for SYF... BOO BOO... So I didn't mention about SYF unlike those whose signatures are in the next picture.

(Top): Here are some signatures proudly drawn by Siqiang (13th Batch AJCO) and Peiling (20th Batch AJCO). 13th batch AJCO clinched the first gold award for AJCO while the 20th batch AJCO clinched a gold and went into the finals. See how proud they are.

(Top): The MOST "BEAUTIFULLEST" AGELESS 美女 - Miss Heng Lena. Now you should understand why AJCians are typically poor in English.

(Top): Ming Xiong and Shujie from the 8th AJCO. Gosh!!! That was ages ago. And there are Jenny and Diana's signatures as well (though not shown here).

(Top): Xiaoting and Sophia - our two new committed AJCAACO peeps =D A couple(d) signature from the 18th batch: Lilian and Chunming.

(Top)： Though Nigel left AJCO in year 1 and went to Ngee Ann Polytechnic, he is really helpful, responsible and committed to this concert and exhibition. I am really proud of him. You can see Guo Yong and Shuwei's signatures as well.


(Top): "Huiyi is spastic... Agree Agree We Agree..." This was one of the special cheers created to tease the 14th batch AJCO president - Huiyi.

(Top): And the best part of all is Mr Tan Kah Yong who vandalized the display board with his special signature (in conjunction with the Lunar 7th month). This explains why the first two rows of the auditorium weren't left empty during the concert as this charm has warded off spirits from entering the auditorium.

(Top): The Exhibition Team
2nd Row Left to Right: Nigel, Tat Kuan, Siew Hwa.
1st Row Left to Right: Jianwei, Lijia and Zhiliang.

*Nigel came down to help right after his exam paper (his exam not completed wor).
*Tat Kuan took a day off from his work and canceled his tuition to set up the exhibits.
*Lijia gave valuable ideas from her wealth of experience working in museums.
*Jianwei came up with the 'beautifullest' depiction of AJCO in a poetic fashion.
*Xiuhua, again, supported me in this project in EVERY WAYS.

Thank you all for the sacrifices you have made to make this exhibition a success!!! Apologies for any misunderstandings we had during the stressful preparation stage. =D


@@@ AJCAACO: We Are Proud of Our Heritage @@@
~Ah Liang~

"The Proposal" - A 'Musical' Production By AJCAACO

As the pianist hit the keys, a beautiful melody filled the stage...

He walked towards her singing Richard Marx's "Now and Forever"...

"Will you marry me" he said...

After a few seconds, she nodded as she wiped away her tears...

The crowd cheered as they hugged each other...

So what does this 'fairy tale' has to do with AJCAACO? What does this 'fairy tale' has to do with a concert rehearsal? First, this is NOT a fairy tale. Second, this scene just happened last Saturday between two former AJCO members (current AJCAACO members).

Starring:

Zhiliang - The Man
Xiuhua - The Woman
Kah Yong - Mr Lobang King/The Pianist
Kah Yong's Mummy - The Tai Tai
Miss Siau - The Actress
Jenny - The Florist
Jenny's Son - The Flower Kid
Lijia - The Military Strategist
Serene - The Ghost (Featured only in the video)

PART I - THE PLAN

The Man had it planned months ago when he knew he is going to get his first pay in NIE around July. The Man waited and waited until he got his first pay. The Man felt that the most meaningful way of using his first pay is to buy a proposal ring for The Woman.

With a 'certified' Military Strategist, The Man went searching for the ideal diamond ring... Went to Lee Hwa, Aspial and Tiffany & Co.

One particular salesgirl said to my strategist, "Why not you try it on? Eventually, you will be the one wearing it".

"No! No! No!... I m just giving him some ideas about rings"... My Strategist exclaimed.

"Oh... Sorry. Then I guess you must be his Military Strategist (军师)" The salesgirl replied with a smile.



PART II - THE RING

On the 5th of August, The Man got help from Mr Lobang King who offered to bring him to a jeweler to buy the ring right after a CO practice.

The Woman was disappointed as The Man was supposed to have a date with her but instead, The Man went out with Mr Lobang King to get the best diamond lobang.


In the jeweler's shop sat The Tai Tai - Mr Lobang King's mummy. The Tai Tai was wearing a TWO carat diamond ring (worth more than $50k). The Tai Tai simply said a few words to the jeweler and tata... The jeweler gave him a special price for a very good diamond ring.

Gosh! It is more than $1k cheaper than the market rate.

The Man paid and left happily despite using up more than half of this first pay.



PART III - D(IARRHEA)-DAY

The clock struck 12pm. The Man was still awake. Nervous. Excited. He went online to find people to chat with. As usual, his nervousness resulted in having diarrhea at 3am in the morning. The Man forced himself to bed.

When The Man woke up at 7am, he had diarrhea twice as he was getting more and more nervous. Gosh!!! As The Woman was sick, The Man went over to her house to carry her Zhongruan. The moment he saw her, his stomach got 'naughty' again. The Man went to the toilet for the third time of the morning.

The Man made plans with The Pianist the night before. When he was in AJC, he and the pianist went to the auditorium stage to try out the song he was planning to sing for her. He also went to find The Actress, The Florist and The Flower Kid to plan out The Proposal.



PART IV - THE PROPOSAL

《葡萄熟了》 just ended. It was time to propose. His hands got sweaty.

The Man got his mic ready. The Actress called The Woman and pretended to tell her that some stage adjustment needs to be done. As they were talking, The Florist and The Flower Boy walked up the stage and gave a bouquet of 12 roses to her. The Pianist was playing 《追》 on the piano at the same time. She was stunned. She was surprised. She was clueless.

The Pianist changed to play Richard Marx's "Now and Forever". The Man walked out from the backstage towards her and started singing...

"Whenever I'm weary... from the battles that is raging in my head... You make sense of madness... When my sanity hangs by a thread... I lost my way but still you seem to understand... Now and forever... I will be your man... Sometimes I just hold you... To caught up in me to see... I'm holding a fortune... that heaven has given to me... I try to show you each and every way I can... Now and forever... I will be your man......"


The Woman started crying as The Man continued to sing... She was shocked yet touched and happy...


Finally, The Man proposed... "Thank you for all the things you have done for me in the past few years... So right here... In front of everyone, I will like to propose to you... (Pause) Will you marry me?"

The Woman smiled to The Man sweetly. Still wiping away her tears, she nodded. The Man took out the diamond ring and put it into the fourth finger of her hand.

The crowd cheered as The Man thanked The Pianist/Mr Lobang King, The Florist, The Flower Boy and the Supporters. The Man kissed and hugged The Woman and they will live happily ever after.

Thank you everyone for all the support you gave me during my proposal to Xiuhua. We will never forget this memorable event and what all of you have done for us. Without you people, the proposal will never be so successful.


**AJCAACO ~ where I have met my best friends and my wife**
~ Ah Liang - The Man ~