Silver award for SYF 2009

To my little darlings in the YI Choir,

Today was a very emotional roller coaster ride for me. After a whole year of sweat, blood and tears, today was the judgement day. My one year old choir is going to perform in Victoria Concert Hall in the SYF competition 2009.

After a good rendition of the white horse and nonya nonya, I thought we have secured our silver award. But little did I know that my choir tripped and fell in mairi's wedding, the third and the easiest song out of the three pieces.

During the intermission, I could see the disappointment on many of your faces. I was heart broken not so much because we did not win, but I wanted so badly for my sec 3 to have s silver award for themselves as this is their last SYF.

When Zonghua asked me innocently, " Mr Wong, so we are not going to get silver?"


I was heart broken as I do not know how to answer him.

I lied.

I told him that miss ang and I will wait for the results. Well, you never know? That was my reply. Deep in my heart, I knew that this slip will cost us our silver.

(Scene 1: The Results)
The wait for the results was excruciating. It was a long wait and I was secretly praying for a miracle to happen. Maybe, the judges will be more lenient with us? Maybe our songs were different from other schools and thus, provide an alternative experience for the judges? There were so many maybes coursing through my mind in that one hour wait.

The moment came.

School fifty two, Yusof Ishak Secondary School.........Silver!


I swore my heart stopped beating.


I looked at kwee Keng with a "Did you hear what I hear?" look.

(Scene 2: Entrance of Victoria Concert Hall)
There were two crazy teachers dashing out screaming like mad people. Kwee Keng and I were busy shouting and texting everyone the good news.

I called Miss Khor, my instructor to tell her the good news.

She SCREAMED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the first time I heard her scream in joy. Well, I have heard her screamed at my students when they were not focused many a times but this was such an exhilarating scream.

Choir listen up, Miss Khor said, " Alan, tell the choir that I love them so much, I will join them for a celebration definitely!"


YI Choir, your silver is gold with first class honours to me. So many schools got the silver award, but how many of them got it after one year? This is something we all should be proud of. Suddenly, all the hard work, running and chasing students seems worthwhile. We competed with 128 other schools and got the Silver award in one year.

I am so proud of you people. Can really cry, but you know Mr Wong will never shed tears in front of students. So I have to find a secret corner and cry. Tears of joy obviously. I thank of all you for this wonderful experience in rewritng the history of Yusof Ishak Secondary School.

Best,

Alan Wong
YI Choir Teacher