Burberry86's Xanga

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Sun, 06 Aug 2006 07:26:28 GMT

today was such a beautiful sunny day. Went to coal harbour and gelato during the afternoon and the fireworks finale in the evening. Unfortunately though...by myself. But wow today's show was soo good. Mexico deserved the win this year. After watching fireworks since 91...i think tonight's show ranks as one of the best. Good mix of music, colour, variety, and syncronizations. Gelato was awesome cuz I had a free one ^_^ and coal harbour was excellent (as always ^_^) two days in a row now and tmr is Jay's bday so that'll make 3 days in a row =p. Sure call me obsessive or ask "what about that place is so good anyways" i dunno I just like the setting. I want to live there someday or something similar to it if i can. Sigh...keep dreaming right?

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Sun, 30 Jul 2006 22:57:15 GMT

OMG....2006 International Saito Conducting Workshop goes down as the most important, memorable, monumental event of my life up to this point. Hands down, from now on life will be different. It was one of the most amazing experiences to work with one of Japan's greatest conducting teacher, Professor Morihiro Okabe, and one of Canada's greatest music educator, Wayne Toews. Both of these people have had a profound effect on my musical development. I had an opportunity to have both of them sign my copy of the Saito Method book so that's my newest treasure/prized possession. It was a very tough week to get through though because of the scheduling. 8:30am starts everyday and ending at 9pm at night most nights. That is quite a lot of conducting per day. Times that by 7 days in a row and you have a crazy intensive week. Thank goodness I don't feel sore from this 6x7 hours worth of conducting in my arm/shoulder/hand/wrist. I do come back as a better person and conductor though. I have gotten a lot of very encouraging comments from people including Wayne himself, who told me that I have the technical work down, it's just a matter of building on that from here. I think I will consider spending more time with him in Saskatoon at some point to further my training. Who knows, maybe someday i'll have an opportunity to go to Toho Gauken in Japan where it all started. I did meet some Vancouver ppl while I was there, in which I believe i've made important contacts. Gerald is from West Van and conducts choirs and he was really impressed by my abilities and offered me an assistant conductor position in one of his choirs. Still gotta work that one out with him. Jim is from the military and is the band director for the military band in Vancouver. He is considering going to UBC for a DMA in conducting. So that's cool too. Stephen is a composer/piano teacher and he's got skill too. Wonder what could happen from knowing him since he's a composer. Wayne suggested a SFU prof called Owen something..., might ask if he could teach me in Vancouver while being away from Saskatoon. Ken Hsieh was there too. He's assistant conductor to the VSO right now. He had some good things to say as well which i'm happy for. Professor Okabe is like 80 something years old but he's such a character. Hilarious sense of humour and he dances for goodness sakes. But when he starts to teach, wow you can see the experience in everything he does. Truly a master. What a priviledge to have met him and work with him. I got it on video and pictures so talk about once in a lifetime chance kinda thing. Well i'm excited cuz I wanna keep going on this and ppl are encouraging me to continue as well because of what they saw in my abilities this week. It really is one of those God moments I tell you. Thinking back, how many things had to coincide and work itself out for my to go on this. Was able to get out of summer school one week early, found the money to pay for it, flights was at it's cheapest (in fact right up to when i was about to click BOOK, it cancelled and said my total $ changed and it turns out it went even lower) c'mon...that's just toooooo cool. And my goodness, now after I've come back, I wouldn't have let myself missed this opportunity. Hoping that they'll do something next year in Saskatoon, in which case i'd be going for sure. Anyways, sleep time had a long day travelling. Update later

Monday, July 24, 2006

Mon, 24 Jul 2006 06:00:22 GMT

Hey....in Saskatoon right now...pretty tired...had a drink at the Boffin's Club (it's like this faculty/member only club on U of Sask..lol...pretty cool. Well it's 1am here...borrowed a laptop to use...sleepy...headache..but excited. Tmr..is a full day...wake up 7am every morning...start session at 8:30am...meeting lots of ppl...pretty cool so far. Well don't wanna type much cuz i'm sleepy...it's hot here too and i feel icky =p. More from saskatoon later...nightz

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Sun, 16 Jul 2006 06:55:00 GMT

hm....ya so i got lazy updating =p. Anyways biggest news so far would be: I got accepted to the 2006 International Saito Conducting Workshop ^_^. My biggest break in the conducting world so far. I'm pretty excited about it and it's in 2 weeks. Finishing summer school early so that I could go (which also means more stress cuz I have to finish the last hwk, final, and final project one week before everyone else eeks).

Today was my cousin's god brother's wedding (yes aka no relation to me whatsoever. Not even acquintances (is that how you spell that ?...) Anyways, as long as I was invited to the banquet, i'm all for it. A pretty good wedding all around I have to admit and in the time honoured tradition, drunk as usual at wedding banquets =p.

other than that....nothing else really new besides my dad going back to HK on thursday...Boo hoo...

today's wedding made me think...the guy was 27-28...i'm 20...in 7 years...we'll be going to each other's weddings...or getting married yourself....scary thought....cuz I don't have a girl...(cries in a corner...><)...oh well....time will tell i guess.

Sunday, June 25, 2006

Sun, 25 Jun 2006 06:01:15 GMT

YAY....turned 20 now....so old...had a blast having a picnic with all my Tech friends @ Coal Harbour. Had pizza and pop...then 2 rounds of mofia which included the stories of Pantyhoseville and Chocolateville. Interesting occupations that ppl took included the weatherman...cardboard box maker...psychotic zoo keeper...prostitute (what's a game of mofia without a prostitute really...=p) Thanks a lot for everyone's presents, loved them all. Gotta excuse me though cuz my brain is so fried from today's conference. Had Mondo's Gelato after everything and turns out you get free gelato on your bday (remember that =p) I only took 2 pictures (i'm so sad eh....*ppl rolls eyes*) but i'll try to upload them soon and send them out to you ppl. Well it's late..i'm tired...nightz la....

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 16:15:46 GMT

OMG....i've just been offered the last spot in the 2006 International Saito Conducting Workshop...AHHH I wanna go but it's in the last week of my summer school and I don't think the prof will go for it ><....DELIEMMA.....this is like a chance of a lifetime we're talking here. I have to let them know in like a week. Deadline for the worshop was over eons ago so I'm really really lucky. What to do now?????

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Tue, 20 Jun 2006 17:00:50 GMT

somebody just kill me now cuz i'm soooooo pissssed beyond compare. I "was" happy to begin with...and it's only 10am...but now an hour later...I have tried to write my post on here...and the comp has made some damn error for the 3rd time now. So i have absolutely no tolerance or patience and teetering on the edge of getting my bat and smashing the cpu to bits right this MOMENT....F....

I "was" going to say what i did this weekend cuz there's so much but I really don't feel like it anymore. Seriously...none of this happened when my sis was not here and when she decides to "show up" again...she takes over my stuff...like wtf...and now the comp doesn't work properly...if I had my way...i'd seriously change all the locks in this house and kick her back outside. So...i'm mean....psh...

who in the world is willing to type their post 3 times...each time is different. Not going to try to recreate what i typed...i'll just boil this week to one sentence. It was really good (as hard as it is to say that NOW...when i'm pissed beyond my mind)...

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Thu, 15 Jun 2006 04:12:26 GMT

My goodness....i think i've finally met my match in the world of young conductors...anyone know Abraham Wong? Pretty talented...course yet to really get to know him but ya. Other than that...Bday soon so hoping to do something for that. Final tmr for my summer school course...better go study. Laterz

Friday, June 02, 2006

Fri, 02 Jun 2006 22:06:27 GMT

...hm it's June 2...only 21 more days to the big "2-0" (yes to me...it is a big deal cuz i'm getting OLD...><)...my I just spent the 4th day working on pulling out all the weeds in my yard and it's finally done (FINALLY...my arms and hands are freaking sore...die freaking weeds DIE)...if anyone has any bright ideas to make soil permanently INFERTILE...pls let me know ASAP. Right so now i'm typing with dead hands/fingers so it actually hurts for every letter I am typing now.

My friend Connie and Mei Li are having their Piano Graduation Recital tonight @ 7pm UBC Recital Hall. That's gonna be fun (since they both threatened me to make sure I go...lol)...women *rolls eyes* jk.

Hm...I wonder how many ppl still use Xanga. I haven't been on here in ages so I wonder if anyone even reads this or probably just a space for me to vent online ^_^

Laterz

Monday, May 29, 2006

Mon, 29 May 2006 18:32:19 GMT

Hey everyone,
...wow look at the last time I updated this thing =p. Well those were other times now, moved on. So ya, what's new with me? Done 2 years of music school at UBC, formed the VTSO successfully back in May 05, maintaining a good annual average in the last 2 years so far, started conducting lessons (sorta), and 3rd year is gonna be looking like PLAY YEAR, since there's almost no academic courses and all instrument playing courses. Taking 2 summer courses right now back to back and they seem to be going well so far. Had several spontaneous get-togethers already with my highschool friends from Tech (all of which were great ^_^). Well if I come up with more to talk about, i'll add it on later. Last thing I did...was do the 30 hour famine...and finished it off with ALL YOU CAN EAT SUSHI (not the brightest idea....cuz your stomach technically can't take that much food after starving for so long...) Ah well, at least I survived. Laterz