Please enjoy these photos from our recent Musical Moments…including a special performance by Ms. Ryoko and her friend Ms. Gloria!
Violas…everywhere!
~ by Ms. Monica
I am so excited after my time spent at the European Suzuki Viola Gathering 2019. There were 280 people there from 19 countries…all for the viola! Some were family members, but we had SO MANY VIOLAS all playing on stage together. Even though we didn’t all speak the same language, we were able to communicate through our music. https://youtu.be/vD_ei8OwnRM
I was invited to teach a parent class; isn’t it wonderful that you, like so many others around the world, are doing something so special with your children?? This is a one-of-a-kind event…I’ve never been to anything with so many violas in one place before, and with no other instruments! It was truly magical to be surrounded by our rich viola tone.
This year, the event was held in El Escorial, Spain. It’s about an hour north of Madrid, and was a former capital of Spain. I got to visit the Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We had students from Pre-Twinkle all the way up through Book 6, and it is growing each and every time we meet. Two years ago, we were in Watford, which is just outside of London. I feel so privileged to use Suzuki Viola as a way to explore the world, but especially as a way to meet students all over the globe. Perhaps in two years time, you’ll join me?
MusiCares Goes to the Dogs
by Students of MusiCares
Title: SAI KUNG STRAY FRIENDS WRITE-UP
The journey to Sai Kung Stray Friends was a memorable one.
On that day, the weather was quite chilly and the air felt a bit frosty, I would say. But the festive mood, lights, food, and decorations of the Sai Kung Stray Friends campsite (or headquarters) brightened the day up, so although we still had to play with cold and stiff fingers, which was obviously not that ideal, but it was still an experience that I enjoyed and didn’t regret.
The staffs, volunteers, and guests there were extremely friendly and vibrant! They helped us introduce ourselves, applauded when we finished, and generously offered to refill our stomachs, enjoy/relax, and have an immersive experience with the Stray Friends community with their wide variety of festive foods and games. All this encouragement gave me the energy to do my best! They made us feel like a part of their community, a part of them.
– Charlotte CHEUNG
Though it was cold, it was fun playing for the people (and they clapped!) The hot dogs and samosas were nice. (Vera)
I liked the food, the cupcakes tasted really good. (MaryChun)
It was a great experience going to perform music at Sai Kung Stray Friends. Since it was my second year in a row going there, I found out more about their community. It was also pretty cold on the day of the performance and the food the volunteers cooked was very nice.(Gareth)
The dogs were cute, the people were nice, we had fun. (Amarbir)
It was a fun and interesting experience and the dogs were really cute (Oliver)
In my opinion, it was great experience. I got very happy to play for a charity and got lunch at the same time. Even thought therewwere times I thought we were ignored, we still got some applause, so it was still good (Roger)
It was a bit cold, but it was fun playing in Sai Kung. The food was nice and the dogs were funny. (Marcus)
The burger and the potato salad was bomb! (Bryan)
Altogether, SKSF raised over $26,000 to go toward supporting the dogs in their care. Congratulations, MusiCares for your contributions!
Stanley Christmas Market Performance
The rain stayed away, and the temperatures were mild for our annual performance at the Stanley Christmas Market. There was a great crowd, and appreciative audience for our students as they shared Christmas music with visitors to the market, as well as with our own families.
The Market is such a fun way to welcome the holiday season!
Please enjoy some photos of the event
Orchestra and Chamber Music Concert!
Our orchestra and Chamber groups gave their Fall term performance on Saturday, 1 December. This was the first time the students had the opportunity to perform in a space that also allowed them to have the full performer experience of entering the stage from the green room rather than from the audience. It really made a difference in the experience of the performers, and for the audience too!
In the orchestra, Sander, Hermione and Naphat were great section leaders for the violins for this term. For the Spring Term, the leaders will be as follows:
Concertmaster: Roger
Principal 2nd violin: Oliver
Co-Principal 3rd violins: Ella & Stacey
The leaders are chosen based on dedication, commitment, preparation and engagement on an ongoing basis.
Many thanks to Ms. Jane and Ms. Sandra for their work with the orchestra, and to Ms. Ryoko for all of her efforts with the chamber groups!
