A Phoenix Risen From The Ashes ... Lest We Forget

Reflecting on the journey the band has made this past year...

Recall the promise that our band made last year on August 8 during the National Day celebrations in the hall, when we told the school about our WMC results, and that we would make good, that we would press on, and be one day a phoenix risen from the ashes?

Remember when we came together and refocused ourselves to the true purpose of music not merely about competition, but about passion, humanity and compassion? Remember when we then relooked at our programmes back in August last year, and embarked on a new direction?

Remember how you guys embarked on the 5-year / 1-year plan for Band, Department and Section, the Fun Camp, the band website and band motto One Band One Sound One Brotherhood, the theory/appreciation plan, the drills and physical training, the soccer games, the band cheers, the concert repertoire, the slow and patient work on each piece, and the final sweep of musicality and exhiliration in the final rehearsals and final performance?

Finally, remember how we urged ourselves to be composed, calm, relaxed, focused, to give a great send-off concert memory to the sec 4s, and to do justice to the music, in the last 2 weeks to the concert, and on concert day itself?

And so, that is the journey from that humbled beginning after our return from the Netherlands, to Aesthetique 2006 when we emerged stronger, more bonded, more passionate, more human and more compassionate, both in our music, and as a band.

And this is the true lesson of this year's work by the whole band: A phoenix risen from the ashes ... Setbacks making us stronger, more humane and more compassionate ... Music conveying humanity, transcending boundaries and making connections with our audience.

And this journey of WMC 05 to Aesthetique 06 should be a significant epoch period in the band's development annals... it must become part of the band's shared memory and psyche, our raison d'etre.

These we must remember as we surge on ... Lest we forget.