Finale Wind Orchestra

My dearest gang,


'Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.' Red Auerbach




But yesterday was not 'everyday', for me. It was a special day of sorts.

I do hear music everyday. It certainly washes from the soul the dust. Yesterday it was not everyday music. It was real live music from some exceptionally talented young kids, we can proudly say, our very own! Music yesterday, had some sort of a rest, the dust in my soul was as delighted and enthralled, that they simply turned to gold.

That was how enchanting my evening was, at the ‘Finale Wind Orchestra’ held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center.

This was jointly held by the Ministry of Education and ISME 2006.

The 27th International Society for Music Education World Conference ISME 2006 was held for the first time in Malaysia this month, sponsored by University Teknologi MARA and other partners. This conference involved some 3000 (whoa!…yes, the hall was filled with a great number of Internationally renowned musicians the world over) musicians both from 83 countries.

The guest of honour was Dato Sri Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein, the Minister of Education, accompanied by his uber stylish wife, Datin Sri Tengku Marsilla Tengku Abdullah.

My ticket, was with Safiah and she was delayed with unexpected jams at Midvalley. When Safiah arrived with ticket, we rushed recklessly to the hall and almost bumped into the Vip guests head on, as both parties were going in opposite directions. Thank God all we received were warm broad smiles from the Vip group. Must be the 'TKC' effect, lots of people were saying of us. Ha ha ha...*wink*

This competition was held amongst the 18 orchestras from the 18 SBPs (sekolah berasrama penuh or residential schools) and last night saw 5, vying for the coveted trophy.

They were:

Tunku Kurshiah College
Sekolah Dato Abdul Razak
Sekolah Tun Fatimah
Sekolah Seri Putri
Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah

Each team was made up of at least 70 members. Each would be led by a conductor.

Listening to live orchestra, especially by our own Malaysian kids truly was amazing.

Soon enough, with sweet music, one simply finds oneself wandering into another unknown but surreal beautiful world. You see and feel wonderful abstract bliss (like, maybe, just maybe, eating green tea ice-cream for me..mmm...) never before, in that new world. I suspect, one will remain youthful, in that realm. It was just full of serene and pleasurable calm. Every note simply seduced your creative mind to stretch further with pleasure.

No wonder people encourages us to do daily chores, be it writing, studying, excercising, cooking, whatever with your favourite music and they promise the result will be exceptional. I agree.

I especially enjoyed watching the conductors in action. Everyone of them had their own style. I could feel their passion, their joy. I saw it in their unique body languages, last night. The way they moved, was testimony as to the way they embraced music with passion and obsession, in a good way.

Seeing and hearing music definitely is a different experience, altogether. It gives you double joy. Triple joy when I was seated beside our president Puan Sri Fauzah Darus as having some 'intellectual' chats during interludes was another source of great entertainment and fun for both of us.

Btw, songs from the movie 'Ibu Mertua' ku was popular last night. especially, 'Di mana kan ku cari ganti'. Mahathir Lokman, emcee for the night, had fun jesting, 'Aha, Nyonya Mansor (the status conscious mother in-law in that movie, played by the late actress extra-ordinaire, Mak Dara) will be proven wrong tonight. PEMUSIK (musicians) rock tonight! They do have fantastic future...as opposed to what she thought years and years ago! Ha ha ha.'

Added delight, was the performance by special guests, Ballanta Academy of Music from Sierra Leone, Africa and another from Russia.

I particularly enjoyed the African performance. The beats of the drums certainly pushed the adrenalin flow faster creating dancing rhythms in my bones. People around me were reserved and guarded and were not swaying. But I did. It is not everyday, that I will be in the presence of this singing and dancing beautiful African group consisting of both soulful adults and talented kids youngest being 7, with the most talented drummers from around, I told myself. I do wonder how a troubled country can produce such happy looking people. It seems to me, this is testimony that everything is a choice.

The night ended with announcements of the results.

1st Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah
2nd Sekolah Seri Puteri
3rd Sekolah Dato Abdul Razak

We still went home happy.

Must be the magical secret effect of the live music.

*smile*

Cheers,

Ruby Ahmad.

Pix 1: K Fauzah (Puan Sri Fauzah darus, President TKCOGA) with some lovely orchestra performers, our own TKC gals.
Pix 2: Ruby, ninie, Yasmin, Safiah.
Pix 3: Ballanta Academay of Music, Sierra Leone.
Pix 4: Tunku Kurshiah College performing.
Pix 5: Ruby, K Zu (Zuraidah Mohamad, principal SM Sains, Seri Puteri).
Pix 6: Ruby, K Fauzah, Safiah.