Dear Mr. Zander I really do not know how to put my emotions into words right now. BPYO has been a life-changing journey for me. The music that we create and the bonds that we share are unique to this orchestra only. To me, this has grown beyond just an orchestra; it has become a tight-knit family, even more so after the tour. From the beginning, something felt different in this group. The people here are just so open and we all get along so well! I felt that the hostels were a great idea, offering a place to converge and talk – meet new faces and experience the diversity in this orchestra. I have made innumerable new friends, some in the weirdest of places (like the pool table!). I first shed my tears in Haarlem. That concert…that Mahler 2 was just emotionally overflowing. When we first went inside the church, I couldn’t help but be amazed by the history. Earlier that day before the concert, I had visited the Franz Hals museum (which was mesmerizing) and when I set my case down on the floor, I saw his actual tomb! What history! The actual concert was chilling to the bone. It was emotionally perfect and everybody played like one. The off stage was incredible and the echo in the room added to the unearthly feeling. The chorus singing at the end with the “prepare yourself” was thunderous and it felt for a moment that maybe God was present. Everybody was so appreciative of our playing, which added to the emotional feeling and that night was absolute perfection. The mixture of old and new in the Netherlands was fascinating and could be especially seen between the cities of Maastricht (the caves that served as WWII escape routes still exist!) and Almere (city built atop the sea?!?). Amsterdam was just unbelievable with all its museums. I went to the Van Gogh museum, Anne Frank House, and of course, the Rijksmuseum. The Rijksmuseum was humongous and I felt like I could stay there for a week and not see everything. The Night Watch did not disappoint – it was so much better to see it in person! And yes, the flashmob. That was such a success! Everybody was so interested in our music-making and I could see the spectators’ shining eyes. When I arrived at the Concertgebouw, I could feel my hairs stand from my excitement. I literally looked around the concert hall for a full 15 minutes taking it all in. We were here. It was a feeling of extreme happiness yet also a sense of sadness that the tour and the inaugural season was about to end. But I chose to look on the bright side – all those friends I made and those bonds formed: they will never break. The concert was the best we have ever played. I felt as if I were pouring my soul into that piece. When it came around to the last page of Mahler 2, my eyes were already tearing eyed and by the end, there were no dry eyes left to be seen. Nimrod was the most heartfelt piece I have ever heard. To me, it embodied all my experiences this year – the ups and the downs, the friends, the emotions. It was a sublime ending. This tour, well this year, has been more than just music-making. It has been a year of possibility. The things that I have learned from your assignments and the memories that I have, I will cherish forever. I am so lucky to be able to experience such deep emotions and such deep bonds. I am so lucky to be able to have friends I will forever remember. Thank you so much Mr.Zander for creating this orchestra of possibility. It truly has changed my life and my thinking. Love, Wei P.S. I cannot wait for next year! And I will forever remember rule #6 in my endeavors…..
Posted on: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 16:21:02 +0000
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