Author: charitykiew

So I’m done with my first semester of grad school! I think God for His faithfulness in bringing me through all the ups and downs and the weird times that I just don’t know what is happening lol. Also mostly thank God for helping me settle down and assimilate into life here in NYC. I always tell people how living in NYC is super different from living in Singapore. But then actually I realised that there are many similarities too… like how
1. I use the subway to get around everywhere
2. I use english to communicate
3. NYC is a very technically connected city.. almost everybody has data on their phone and the city heavily relies on that to function
4. Very cosmopolitan community
5. People generally like to keep to themselves
etc…
Both Singapore and NYC are cities after all and for that they are similar in many aspects.

Anyway, now that school is out I have been attending quite many concerts!
The most memorable one for me is La Boheme at the MET. I think La Boheme is my all-time favourite opera!! I like how the plot is very real.. it is about the life of Parisian artists in the 18th century, that even though they are poor and don’t have much – they can still lead very rich and meaningful lives. But then tragedy strikes and because they are poor and don’t have much, they are unable to fully cope with what life throws at them. It’s moving, sad, but humorous at the same time! The librettist added playful and sarcastic banter and I really appreciated that. And of course, the music is beautiful!

Then I attended SymphoNYChorus’ concert! They are a christian group that puts up performances at churches/children’s homes/elderly homes/schools etc. And they did a concert of christmas tunes and carols. It was very heartwarming to be reminded of the true reason for the season – that Jesus came down to Earth to save us. And that is why we can have true and infinite joy.

Then! I went to watch Handel’s Messiah by the New York Philharmonc. This was my first time listening to the NYPhil and therefore also my first time in their performing home – the David Geffen Hall. I like the hall, it’s very posh-looking especially since it has a glassy exterior which allows audiences to overlook Lincoln Center and the rest of the city. Anyway, I was most impressed by the three singers! They each have so much colour in their voice and have such a clear idea of what they want to do musically. It is sheer pleasure for the audience because they communicated so directly to the heart.

Up next (haha, told you I was going to many concerts) was Joyce Didonato’s concert at Carnegie! It was entitled In War and Peace and she chose mainly works by Handel and Purcell that can depict this contrast between war and peace. It was really interesting how she used her music as the starting point for a rhetoric about conflict and peace in our world today and also that within us. She even has a website for people to post their answers to the question she asks “In the midst of chaos, how do you find peace?” (inwarandpeace.com) I’m super inspired by how she dares to step beyond making music, but to provoke people to think how music can make a difference in our world.

ok and finally the last concert I went to was Salome at the MET Opera! I really enjoyed it and I guess I enjoyed how the MET decided to attenuate the risque-ness of the opera. But as usual, excellent and world-class singing and playing.

OK yes, there has been feasting too to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season!

and speaking of cold…. IT SNOWED. Being the tropical bird that I am, I was obviously very excited. I woke up to this:

But then the excitement slowly died down when I realised how difficult it is to walk in the snow. It’s really slippery! And when the snow starts to melt, really deep puddles start to form and it’s slushy everywhere ):

“When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption to sonship.” Galations 4:4-5

Today is the second last day of the semester! Well the semester technically only ends on Friday but my final exam is tomorrow, after which I don’t have anymore classes! This semester flew by.. well ok maybe not in the beginning when I was still figuring out how to live in NYC haha, But things really took off after that.

The holiday season is here  and I’ve just been taking in all the sights and sounds of this season in NYC. It has been really pretty actually, almost every street has trees draped with fairy lights. I really appreciate that especially since the sun sets at 4.30pm everyday which is really depressing, so any form of light is always welcomed. Yea actually speaking of that, I just feel like my world is shrouded in darkness more than half the time so that’s still one of those things that a tropical bird like me has to get used to.

Spending this season away from home has been a bit strange! I have never spent Christmas or New Year’s away from Singapore or from loved ones. I’ve been scrolling through my Facebook or Instagram newsfeed and just feeling the warmth of all the parties/gatherings/church services that are happening back home in Singapore. I guess I just miss doing the things that I would usually be doing at this time of the year (yes, youth camp included) and the people that I would usually spend time with.

So those of you who are spending time with family this Christmas, be very thankful for that!! Because life may lead you on to other paths and that could mean being away from loved ones for a while. Christmas is a magical time, but the magic is very much diminished when you’re not spending it with those whom you hold dear.

Anyway, as promised, here are pictures from Szeged, Hungary.

“Pick” Salami – a specialty of Hungary

Szeged Dom

Christmas window shopping

My practice room at the competition venue hehe

Streets of Szeged

Pony ride!

Haystacks

Inside the Szeged Dom

The dome of the Dom

Model of the Szeged Dom and its surroundings

This tree is in the heart of the shopping district of Szeged: Karasz utca

Forralt Bor = Mulled Wine

The Bridge of Sighs

Hungarian sweets

Karasz utca

Hungarian mixed fish soup

close-up

Along the Tisza river

They love their soccer

Hungarian beef goulash

Christmas market!

 “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” Isaiah 43:25

Szia! That’s ‘hi’ in Hungarian haha.. For those of you who don’t know yet – I’m in Szeged, Hungary and have been here for almost a week! I came here for the 4th International Szeged Harp Competition (: Apart from the fact that it’s been really cold (temperatures dropped to -5 degrees celcius today), Szeged is a really nice, quiet, peaceful, and clean city. It also has really beautiful architecture and almost every building seemed to have been designed with such great care and detail. Also, what’s really really awesome is that I have the entire Airbnb apartment to myself!! It has one bedroom, bathroom, living room, kitchen/dining area. It’s really nice having all this space to myself, especially since in NYC everyone has to share living space because rent is just way too high.
This apartment has amazing heating!! I walk around barefoot because it’s warm and toasty in here haha. Sometimes I forget that it’s actually really cold outside so one time, I opened the door wanting to go out without wearing my coat and the cold hit me so I ran back inside lol. And my favourite part –  the bathroom floor and the towel rack are also heated!!! This place is really comfortable, I’ll be quite sad when I leave for NYC tomorrow morning.

Anyway, my bodyclock has been really weird…. it has adopted the timezone in between Szeged and NYC time. I can’t sleep till 2am, but then I wake at 7.30am. But oddly enough I wake up to a sense of sleepiness (lol does that even make sense) and I’ll fall back to sleep till it’s about 9 or 10am. And I guess the main reason why I’m blogging right now is because it’s not 2am yet so I’m trying to tire my brain out a little bit more before going to bed – hopefully I’ll fall asleep faster.

So competitions! I’m glad I did this one, not because I won a prize or even some form of verbal commendation from the judges. (Actually to be honest, I was feeling quite embarrassed about how I played my first stage, I literally bolted after I played and did not go back to the competition venue 3 days later lol). Ok but everybody – I’m not depressed or emotionally scarred or anything. I wanted to do sightseeing/write my essay and also… I guess this trip was my city life-detox that really allowed a lot of introspection.

Yes, I do have a lot of thoughts and I am very very keen to discuss them with anybody who’s interested in talking with me about these things. But I’ll just do a point-form thingum about my thoughts so far, don’t want this to be too wordy. No judgement zone ya.

1. How does one know if he/she has what it takes to be a professional (performing) musician? When will one know if he/she is not cut out for it? Is there an age that you cross, that determines whether this is, or is not, for you?
2. How do I know if I love playing music, simply because I love playing music?
   Will I still be doing this if I do not get any form of validation? Will I still choose to do this even if in this lifetime I don’t get recognised or commended for the work I do?
3. Why do I play music? What do I hope my music will do for people?
4. What validates one as legit musician/performer? What is the yardstick? What is the standard?
5. And I guess all these questions lead up to this –> Is pursuing this path worth it? Which is the eternal question that all artists ask themselves some point in their lives right?

Ok I’m not sure if any of those questions up there are very “Duh why is she asking this kind of questions they don’t even make sense and the answers so obvious”.. and yes I also hate to be melodramatic and emo. But ehh, some reflection is good for the soul and these questions will pop up every once in a while in a musician’s mind I think.

Pictures of my trip in my next post (:

“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. ” Proverbs 4:18

It’s my very first time celebrating thanksgiving and I’m slowly learning that it is such an important holiday for US Americans! The general atmosphere in Manhattan is really festive especially with the Macy’s Day Parade which celebrates its 90th year!! And I’m guessing this festive mood is here to stay till New Year’s, how exciting!

I spent my thanksgiving going to Ms Mariko’s (my harp teacher) apartment! We had yummy cheeses, smoked salmon, berries, bagels, french pastry, tea and juices (: We also had a fun time playing card and board games!

One day before thanksgiving, I gave my first solo recital in MSM! To be honest, I was so neurotic preparing it, I even wanted to cancel….. I worried and stressed so much about it – more than senior recital at YST. And I think it was because I felt so unprepared. But you know what, this recital was the most enjoyable one I have ever done! From the beginning to the end, I was having such a great time on stage creating phrases and colours. The nerves melted away pretty quickly too! If every single recital that I do in the future is like that, my life is complete.

Anyway, in the spirit of thanksgiving I’m especially thankful for one thing – belief.

For my belief in Christ who has been my faithful provider and counselor. (But yet this belief is only made possible by the grace of Christ!).
For others who have believed in my abilites and has supported me through this journey so far. I am nothing without you guys.
I still wake up everyday and think about how crazy it is that I am in NYC training to be a professional musician. I’m blessed beyond measure.

Ok some pretty pictures of central park! Last Saturday was officially the last day for ‘warm’ sunshine-y weather. So I had to scoot out to enjoy beautiful central park in all its autumnal glory!

“If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.” Psalms 130:3-4

Ok for the longest time I have been meaning to write about the differences between American english and the english I speak. I say the english I speak, and not British english (which is the english that is used in Singapore) because I naturally think and speak singish-ly. So far, when I slip into singlish phrasing or intonation here, half the time or perhaps even most of the time, people find it hard to understand me – I usually need to repeat myself haha, which is understandable of course. Anyway, this post is just an observation of the differences I’ve encountered so far, quite interesting actually!

1. Not toilet… but bathroom
haha this was literally the first one I noticed. People don’t ask “Where’s the toilet?” or “May I use the toilet?”. It’s bathroom. Which I find strange because shouldn’t a bathroom be called a bathroom only if you can take a bath in there – and in most public toilets, and school toilets, there are no showering facilities.

2. Not cinema.. but movie theatre
I don’t know if people here know what a cinema is

3. Not notes.. but bills
Yea it’s five-dollar bills here and not five-dollar notes

4. Not dustbin..  but thrash can

5. Not takeaway.. but to go

6.Not Pavement.. but sidewalk

7. And University and college have different meanings in US????

ok you get the idea.. but I guess for me the biggest difference is how singlish is such an efficient language in that it breaks down the structure of proper english, so I could say something in less words when using Singlish than proper english. Like if I wanted somebody to wait a moment I could say “wait ah” and that’s it. But here I have to say “Please hold on a moment” or something like that so that I don’t appear rude haha

Also, I realised that the question “How are you?” is a greeting and it’s usually ONLY a greeting. This means that the asker may not actually care about how you’re doing. Strangers walking down the street greet each other with this same question and they’re obviously not going to go into a deep conversation about their day and their feelings. When I first got here I got anxiety when random people asked me how am I because I wasn’t sure how much details they wanna know. Because back in Singapore, at least for me, I wouldn’t ask someone “How are you?” unless I really wanna know and I care about having a conversation with them.

Ok, time for pictures

“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.. I myself will see him with my own eyes” Job 19:25-27

Once in a while I come across bible passages that, in my opinion, are particularly moving or profound – I shall put them here as a way for me to archive them, and I hope that you will enjoy reading them too (:

Daniel in the Lion’s Den (Daniel 6:1-28)

It pleased (King) Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.” Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.

When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”

Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.” Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.

Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den.

So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces. Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.” So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Just last Sunday, I played in a concert to remember and celebrate the life of Harpist Deborah Hoffman who was a harp teacher at MSM and also principal harpist of the Metropolitan Opera. The concert was also to dedicate a new Lyon and Healy Style 11 Harp that was generously donated to MSM in memory of Deborah.

The harp studio of MSM came together in a harp sextet to play two fun and uplifting pieces by Scott Joplin and Jean-Philippe Rameau! As much as I grumbled about having to spend time practicing more pieces and sitting in more rehearsals, – I’m very thankful for this opportunity to get to know the other harpists better -what a fun bunch they are! Also, this concert allowed me to hearing what other people had to say about Deborah – about the fine musician and humble person that she was. It inspires me to be the same also, to live humbly and make music with integrity and sensitivity.

Speaking of great musicians, on Thursday I had the great honour of taking a masterclass with principal harpist of the Berlin Philharmonic – Marie-Pierre Langlamet. There are no that can describe the HUGE admiration I have for her – she is really a true musician who thinks not just about the music, but she thinks about the physics behind harp technique, resonance and damping of sound. She answered so many questions I have about harp playing, and the best part is that I didn’t even have to ask. She incorporated them into her teaching and it was just so enlightening for me. And also, she has the BEST SOUND. I die a little bit inside each time she demonstrates because the disparity between her sound and everybody else’s is so great ahhhh. Don’t believe me? Listen for yourself:

Anyway, I have been spending most of my time practicing (what’s new lol). But that’s because I have a recital coming up – 22nd November. To be honest, I’m not even sure who will go lolll I don’t know that many people here. I’m playing a programme that I’m very excited about!
Handel/ Grandjany – Prelude and Toccata
Farkas – Hungarian Dances from the 17th Century
Faure – Impromptu
Ravel – Introduction et Allegro
Hindemith – Sonata fur harfe
Grandjany – Rhapsodie pour harpe
eh, if you know anybody in NYC who would like to come, please jio ya. It’s at 5pm at Miller Hall at MSM. I’ll see if can have live stream haha.

Anyway, photos. Not many ya, since I was mostly in school.

“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance – now that he has died as a ransom to set them free form the sins committed under the first covenant.” Hebrews 9:15

These past two weeks have been very musically-fulfilling for me. I just ended a MSM Symphony Orchestra concert with Maestro Leonard Slatkin and Brahms’ Tragic Overture, Copland’s Appalachian Spring Suite and Shostakovich’s Eleventh Symphony were on the programme! The concert went very well but it was Maestro Slatkin’s pep-talks/story-telling that was the biggest takeaway for me. He said many many things but three things stuck with me.
1. When going for an (orchestra) audition or competition, just go out there to show-off, be yourself. There is no point trying to decipher the kind of musician they are looking for because you’ll never know. Just do your best and be satisfied with how you played. The musical career is a long one, this satisfaction is what will sustain you through it – not the chase after money or fame.

2. As long as you have practiced hard, studied and understood the music, there is no need to be nervous. But if you are not prepared, you do not deserve to be on the stage.

3. A concert is merely an interruption of an evening that could have been spent at a nice dinner…. so I guess make the audience’s time worthwhile?

Anyway, the recurring theme of what Maestro Slatkin and my history professor Dr Edward Green have been saying is to always find and express, kindness, truth and beauty in our music. Because it is not art when our music is insincere.

Anyway, it has been getting real cold!! Like below ten degrees cold, and it’s only gonna get colder!

“Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.” Romans 4:7-8

I went to Baltimore last weekend!! It was a trip that I always wanted to make because I have so many good friends studying there in the Peabody Conservatory. Big big thanks to them for their hospitality and kindness as they planned my itinerary and brought me to do touristy things haha. HUGE gratitude to Yuting who let me share her bed and basically made sure that I was having fun and making full use of my time there!! I’ll let the pictures do the talking….

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us, As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him” Psalms 103:11-13

Once in a while I come across bible passages that, in my opinion, are particularly moving or profound – I shall put them here as a way for me to archive them, and I hope that you will enjoy reading them too (:

Elijah Flees to Sinai (1 Kings 19:1–18)

When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. 2 So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”

3 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. 4 Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”

5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” 6 He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.

7 Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.”

8 So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai,*the mountain of God. 9 There he came to a cave, where he spent the night.

The Lord Speaks to Elijah

But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10 Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 He replied again, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

15 Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. 16 Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. 17 Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha! 18 Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!”