Well Begun is Half Done

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent. - Victor Hugo

It was the combination of the three; good opportunity, favorable geographical location and support of the friendly toastmasters. D67 Toastmasters Chorus had a splendid first singing practice at Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Ms. Chang yu-jing and accompanying pianist Ms. Li yi-hua this evening, September 23rd.

When I arrived at Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra at 6:30PM, I saw Immediate Past District Governor Marian Hsiao waiting at the coffee shop with Pianist Ms. Li. Ms. Chang was one step behind me. Without further ado, we started the voice part audition immediately. Marian joined the Alto, Bill Wan the Bass and Yeh kuo-hwa Tenor. To everyone's surprise, most chorus members showed up at 6:45PM. So, I took the good opportunity of the early bird time to share a sign language song "A Grateful Mind" I recently learned with chorus members. It turned out that Conductor Chang was more enthusiastic about the sign language song than me.

At 7 o'clock sharp, we started our first choral lesson punctually. Conductor Chang's vocal skills and teaching technique were impressive. She told us how to breathe and how to accentuate. She told us she loved singing since childhood. She just graduated from graduate school of music, spent most of her time coaching children. When she invited all chorus members to stand up to sing children song Lightly Row* with her lovely simile and movement, we were excited to practice the right breathing skills by walking around in the classroom to greet chorus members. It felt like we became children in kindergarten, like little bees, flying in the garden, working hard, and singing merrily. George Yen and Jorie Wu were the happiest bees couple. They just couldn't separate from each other flying around.

嗡嗡嗡 嗡嗡嗡 大家一起勤做工 來匆匆 去匆匆 走得興味濃 春暖花開不做工 將來哪裡好過冬 嗡嗡嗡 嗡嗡嗡 別學懶惰蟲

This evening, we started with an easy but beautiful choral song "Fireflies" composed by Prof. Yu Chang-fa (游昌發) in three voice parts. I didn't know whether it was because "a famed teacher produces great disciples" or "toastmasters singers of a feather flock together", or both, I heard the voices of angels this evening. Conductor Chang was impressed. Pianist Li was impressed. All chorus members were impressed with the sweet harmony of the first gathering of toastmasters singers at Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra.

火金姑 丟丟來 一鮮錢給你買鳳梨 火金姑 丟丟去 一鮮錢 給你買甲蒺

During the intermission, I saw many photos of Maestro Henry Mazer on the walls of the recital room. Maestro Henry Mazer was praised as a "gifted conductor" by New York Times. He made Taiwan his home for 16 years with Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra. I was very inspired by Maestro Henry Mazer's contribution to the development of music education in Taiwan.

After the intermission, we were enthusiastic to practice "Fireflies" again and again. Upon the instructions of Conductor Chang, we started with very small voices to mimic the fireflies coming out in the dark forest in one voice part, gradually we raised our voices in two parts of Alto and Soprano. Wow, it was such a beautiful harmonic evening full of happy fireflies beaming here and there!

Soprano: Linda Tseng, Michelle Liu, Jorie Wu, Kate Hsu
Alto: Marian Hsiao, Gina Fu, Lydia Lin, Maggie Chiu, Sherry Li
Tenor: Ron Chen, Kuo-hwa Yeh
Bass: George Yen, Bill Wan

I plan to attend the second singing class much earlier in order to know more about Maestro Henry Mazer and to enjoy a good cup of coffee at the Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra before class. Care to join District 67 Toastmasters Chorus to have enjoy a fun and harmonic night? We welcome you with open arms and cheerful voices of angels.

*Remarks: The Lyrics of Lightly Row

Lightly row, lightly row, O'er the glassy waves we go!
Smoothly glide, smoothly glide, On the silent tide.

Let the winds and waters be Mingled with our childish glee.
Sing and float, sing and float In our little boat!

Far away, far away, Echo in the rock at play;
Calleth not, calleth not, To this lonely spot.

Only with the seabirds' note Shall our happy music float.
Lightly row, lightly row, In our little boat!