The Year in Review (Part One)

Greetings, dear readers

As another year draws to a close, it is time again to look back over the events and highlights that have shaped my 2012.

This year, I had the privilege of celebrating both New Years (Western and Chinese) in China. It was my first visit to the country of my fathers and I certainly hope it won't be my last. To meet most of my grandma's extended family and gain the confidence to speak some Hokkien were the main achievements of the trip.

But the biggest highlight was discovering where my Christian and musical heritage come from. I was fortunate to attend church in China with my relatives and also participate in several family gatherings, which involved a meal and lots of talking and singing. This is the main reason I cannot wait to go back, and take the rest of my family with me, especially my dad.

In regards to study, you may remember that last year ended for me on a note of relief, in that I hadn't
been kicked out of the Master of Teaching (Secondary) course after I had failed my two attempts at first-round placement. Well, this year also ended on a note of relief, but relief mixed with euphoria. Through a combination of hard work and God's grace, I finished the Postgraduate Diploma with flying colours, and can expect my VIT registration any day soon.

It has been a busy year with MUCS as well. Our first gig for the year was the ANZAC Day Dawn and Morning Services, in which you might have seen me if you were watching the broadcast on ABC. It was my first Dawn Service, and one I won't forget in a hurry. We stood in driving wind and rain with no cover, and it was a miracle that I didn't fall sick. This was followed in May by our performance of Haydn's oratorio The Creation in St Paul's Cathedral.
In July, we accompanied the likes of Sylvie Paladino and Delta Goodrem at the Prime Minister's Olympic Gala Dinner, before joining forces with the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic and Melbourne Youth Orchestra to perform the Russian Spectacular in October at the Melbourne Town Hall.
December is our busiest and most important month in the year; the concerts and carolling gigs allow us not only to make back cash on concerts which sold at a loss, but also to build for next year. Tonight and tomorrow we will be presenting our annual series of Carols concerts at St Paul's Cathedral. More about that in the next post.

However, the year hasn't been without its share of sadness as well. In August one of my aunts in Malaysia (三妗) finally succumbed to cancer after a brave fight of several years. Thankfully, she passed away peacefully, and her children are all grown up and looking after themselves. My heart also goes out to those parents and families who lost loved ones in the tragic and seemingly senseless shootings in Newton, Connecticut, last week. I pray God will comfort them, especially at this time of the year.

To be continued...