One Band

The Band played well for the orientation concert today. I could truly sense that the band is indeed One Band, One Sound, One Brotherhood (Our Creed).

This is something I believe firmly in - that the real best excellent music that connects with the audience comes from a band with a pure, sincere and selfless heart.

This is all the more important for our Band now. With all our past achievements, as we strive towards the greatest musical heights, we must not forget about the real purpose of our music. To lose this and the purpose of our music would be truly disastrous - for the band will then never be truly great. The greatest orchestras and bands in the world are never caught up in mere superficial results and awards, but in the intrinsic aspects of their music, with all their great traditions.

We are now One Band, One Sound, One Brotherhood.
Truly, as a band, we have a common heartbeat, a common voice, and a common trust in each other.
I can see and feel that in our band now.
Cherish it. Grow it.
If we lose that sense of common purpose and destiny, if we lose that common faith and trust in each other as brothers, if we only think of outdoing each other, we would no longer be One Band.
There can be no resonance and ensemble in our music without mutual trust.
There can be no true passion and heart in our music without true sincerity.
For only in unity will the Band be One.
Music is beyond selfish desires and petty gains.
Music is beyond individual power and personal glory.
Music transcends all.
For Music is the revelation of truth, compassion and humanity.

When we recall the greatest musical works ever composed - Bach's St. Matthew's Passion, Handel's Messiah, Beethoven's 9th Symphony (Choral), Mahler's Symphony No. 2 (Resurrection) and Symphony of a Thousand, Schubert's Symphony 'The Great', Verdi's Requiem, Mozart's Requiem, and even Les Miserables and Jericho ... they sparkle, shine, and touch our hearts because they are about universal brotherhood, about humanity, about selfless passion, about redemption, and about truth and hope.

We have worked so hard to come so far till this stage where the band is really ONE now, and this spirit must be passed down. We must never lose sight of this. We must never forget the reason we make music as a band, lest we lose the very purpose of our existence.

We are One Band, One Sound, One Brotherhood.