19th April 2016 is my big big day, I'm having my graduation recital for my undergraduate studies.
Unique because the only in my class without photo and pure art concept
From the preparation stage
until the presentation and clean up, it wasn't easy although I have already
taken least possible steps. Decide the repertoires, getting accompanists,
poster and invitation card designer, getting work crew, setting up rehearsals, printing
promotional materials, sending invitation cards, prepare the concert venue,
everything to be accomplished in 2 months' time.
It's even more exciting when your teacher decides to go
oversea and take break during the spring break, I practically only get to see
my teacher around 5 times before I go on stage XD. By the way, congratulation
to Wei Pan 潘微, my year one junior who merged up as the 1st prize in a clarinet
competition in China, way better accomplishment than my recital XD.
some of my friends' poster
The moment things set in motion, hell unleashed. It was
the first time I’m doing these kind of stuffs, I’m a little too optimistic. A
lot of things were behind the schedule due to unforeseen circumstances like quintet
members’ conflicting schedule, improving the poster design, time needed for
printings, and fund shortage due to cutting down part time jobs.
I have totally zero experience in working with string
quartets, to the extend one of the member wasn't pleased with the progress, she
voluntarily withdrew but still grace enough to get a replacement, she was a
promising member. During the rehearsal, we always look at each other expecting
for directions rather than giving suggestion, it was my biggest mistake to
rehearse without a more experienced 3rd-party to supervise us. Things really
tensed up, but I am really lucky that my members willing to give me a lot of
suggestion when I approached them personally, and getting some friends to
supervise our rehearsal.
Invitation Card
Originally deemed failed concept, decide to use it anyway, surprisingly turned out to be invitees' most favourite and preferred card. (I have 2 designs, the other similar to poster)
Sending out invitations wasnt easy either, I handwritten
all the invitations, at least to all my classmate (about 70 of them) and followed
up by the juniors. It’s really time consuming, I actually skipped a few days of
practice just to write cards. In the end I failed to write to some friends, but
I still write to them after the recital to make up.
On the day itself, I initially plan to do a run through
in the morning, take afternoon nap and get ready for evening recital. But I
forgot to prepare the entry ticket!! A rule just implemented this year to
control the quantity of the crowds. I instead spend the day preparing it,
called up some good friends to help out however turn out to be bad friends
asking me go to shopping instead.
Bio in chinese, sorry if you don't understand
And then the recital, damn bloody nervous wei.. Mistakes
happens due to pressure and nervous, luckily no big shit except a few technical
slips, I managed to get steady not long after into performance. Funny things
still happens like knocked into the piano, stopping the pianist when he’s about
to start cuz I need to adjust the stand, etc etc. The most fatal is running out of stamina,
where my embouchure could barely hold anymore, its like a plane almost
decompose into pieces but managed to land safely. Thank god.
Mozart K.581 & Horovitz Sonatina
At the end, the highlight of my graduation recital wasn't my performance, but the poster, invitation card and my program notes(bio) instead.
Photo and social moment after everything ends. I
will miss my classmates, friends, teachers, everyone in Taiwan very very much.
Anyway, I'm not really graduating this year, doing planned delay. Good night !
