Hey everyone out there!

Another year, another round of exxxxxxxxxxxxciting bunch of stuff to do!

Chinese New Year’s coming up soon =) With a bunch of other events, people going (or coming/came back from) overseas; birthday celebrations here and there. Throwing in a couple this and that-s.

As Acappuccino, we have a few things lined up in our calendar as well. April, July, Dec. Important months. =)

So stay put and rock out on your chair (or on your bed, if you’re like me) while you hear of more these from us.

With lotsa love and on a caffeine high!
pachie (wanted to sign off as pachiella. weird.)

Acappuccino is now taking a short break before we start work on materials for 2010, which we will continue our little journey into jazz and a bit of modern choral material.

Les Voix 09 has been a wonderful experience, with each of us once again enjoying the company of each other and of the NYP Voice Ensemble. NOt forgetting also, the NYPVE Alumnis, the Vocakakis.

To those going for AKA A Cappella, do look out for us amongst the audience! =P

Yours,

Derrick

Not to the vocal ensemble, but to singers in general.

*cries in laughter*

Practices for the collaboration performance is going smooth, with the occasional sharps and flat singing, but we’re running fine.

The concert on Dec 4th with the NYP Voice Ensemble will have us guest performing 4 pieces, and joining them for the concert as part of them, while also we’re presenting the inaugural VocaKakis (the alumni choir). LES VOIX ‘09 is set to be a humble reminder of music, with folk music and a dash of classic pop songs by Sting and more.

The concert will be held at the NYP Theatre for the Arts. NYP is situated opposite the Anderson Jucnior College, nearest MRT being Yio Chu Kang. There will be signs leading visitors to the TFA on that day.

You can book your tickets (it’s free!) for LES VOIX ‘09 through our email (enter subject as “Les Voix Ticketing”). Just drop us an email (leave your number), and when we have concreted your ticketing requirements, we’ll call you (now you know why).

Enjoy!!

Was evaluating with a good friend over the last few years, especially on Acappuccino.

We’ve grown quite a lot, and it has been positive so far, despite the setbacks that we’ve faced before; and it so happens that I was looking through a few photos on my Flickr (just run a search for Acappuccino on Flickr.com); and am surprised at how much we’ve grown since 2007 when we finally started up for Tapestry.

From our days with Tracie also, we attempted a series of materials that were really different from what others were doing, and we stood out at the Acachamps then.

Then in our second year, we tried to spice things up a little after Tracie left, by having Farhanah sing Soprano (though on certain pieces, she still sings Alto, and Fan sings Soprano for these pieces, e.g. Good Ol A Cappella) and we had our own photoshoot with Chris, a photographer friend of Fanella’s.

That same year, we had a combined concert with Vox Astra which wasn’t caught on film at all, because of some technical querks. We also learnt a thing or two about Concert Managing, which really brought us up to a new level, especially when we produce our own concerts or go on concert projects with different groups.

And in our third year, Yuqin joined us as a Soprano, which expanded our material by bringing in a fuller sound than we’ve ever produced live so far- and that was it, a sextet and we were like once again, happily making music.

We also adopted a classy black-and-red look, which we thought was unique, but it was (like I quote from The Real Group,) Commonly Unique. And at our second attempt at competing again, we attained second place at the Chamber Choir category at the Acachamps 2009. Held at the Esplanade Recital Studio (the group’s maiden performance at the location) with our own dressing room, we also had the chance to see other groups perform and of course, witness Fajar Secondary crying over their Gold victory.

Now, what to expect out of us – let me give you a leak into our year-end project, i.e. Christmas.

We’ve got a guest Soprano from new female quintet, Terpsichords, to fill in Farhanah’s place (as she is unable to perform for Christmas). The sound is starting to emerge, and we’re getting used to it, while Farhanah is watching us also – hopefully enjoying every moment we have too.

All these while we’re also going in-concert with the Nanyang Polytechnic Voice Ensemble for their annual concert this December.

So what should you do? Just stay tune here and watch us as we go along our journey. =)

Till the next entry,

Derrick

Dearest all,

Silver!!

Acappuccino was awarded the SILVER award (with 71+ points) at the A Cappella Championships’ (Pop Chamber Choir category) earlier! We’d take this opportunity (irregardless) to thank everybody who believed in our vision to explore the boundaries of music; despite our diversities and problems that arised throughout these few months.

First and foremost, to each other in the group for being there for each other. Besides, there’s only us, who else can we really neglect?

Next are the people who logistically and administratively supported us, Alex and Angie from The A Cappella Society, Singapore. They’ve let us have a wonderful to rehearse in and also provided the freedom of what to do (of course as long as we’re able to perform) which really helped us improve over the last 1 year awayfrom the competitive scene.

Our friends and family are often the people we turn to out of the group; thank you for supporting us and being nice to understand that Saturday evenings are no-nos because we have “choir”, “a cappella” or “music practise”… We proudly brandish and push the silver trophy into your faces because you deserved to be “blessed” by its touch and presence!

(We were only kidding about the act of pushing the trophy into your faces, because it is just rude. We apologise if you don’t find it funny too. =))

Last of all, the unidentifiable people who’ve heard us and supported us in spirit (mostly on every occasion when they see us) and the arts community who supports local young artistes and groups. We thank you for your support, criticisms and also comments!

Acappuccino will continue to brave the frontiers of harmony making and enjoying ourselves on stage because we just love to share the joys of singing and entertaining others. Be sure to catch us at our guest performance at the NYPVE Concert this year end, more details will be released when we’re furnished with it!

Thank you all once again for being with us in our third year running. =)

Yours in Harmony,
Derrick

Hi all!!

This is Derrick here, and its half an hour before the Choir Category begins. We’re nervous, but confident that we’ll enjoy ourselves onstage.

We might not be in top form, considering how few of us were sick on and off recently, but my personal stand is still that we have fun irregardless how we fare. =)

We hope those who attended tonight will enjoy us and also, the other great ensembles that take part.

I just can’t wait for Monday – an exchange with Cool A Cappella from KOREA!

Signing off,
Derrick

This was a very rough recording which we took during one of our recent rehearsals. We’re planning, from out of ime, to continue to rehearse and we thought that it’ll be good to just put a TRG piece.

What else but the wonderful, Words?

I can’t say enough but to repeat that this is really a rehearsal run, we just took up the song not long ago.

So do Derrick here a favour and just listen and we promise you better quality, diction and best of all, nicer pictures with Alvis inside, k? ^^

Armed with Jazz, and more material in hand now; and a bigger vision, Acappuccino is ready for performances beginning June 2009, after a one-year hiatus .

The extension from a quintet to a sextet breathes new life into the group when Soprano Chan Yu Qin was added to the group – not just for music-making purposes, but for the extra fun also. Gerald, Fanella, Alvis, Derrick and Farhanah’s capacities were also increased this year with a new level of music doing 5 to 6 part music, tracing back to choral roots also.

So dearest fans, please b prepared as Acappuccino brings you another brew this coming June. =)

To hire us for gigs, please contact Angie or Alex at contact@a-cappella.org.sg.

At Acappuccino, we’re commited to bringing you good music and performances not just by ourselves, but by others in the world, this is The Vocapeople from Israel!