Hsin Yeow's thoughts: Forever In Love

Singing for Philip's wedding gave us more stress than we had ever imagined. But as with most trials by fire, we walked away with a profound sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

First of all, Philip is a band director of three schools. He also teaches the clarinet and saxophone. Music clearly runs in his family, because Philip's brother is a flute teacher.

If that wasn't intimidating enough, Philip wrote breezily, "I have 1 table worth of guests who are all musicians placed right in front of your stage, you can engage them anytime cause some of them are singing teachers, pianists and 1 English Lady who is the visiting London College Music Examiner (who is a choir director back in UK)."

Luckily, Bevlyn and I had secured Boon Chye and Matthew to perform for the wedding. Philip was thrilled to bits when he knew Boon Chye would be playing. For those not in the know, Boon Chye held his own when Kenny G himself dropped by Hard Rock Cafe one evening and jammed along with him. That's how good Boon Chye is. Matthew is also a keyboardist of prodigious talent, so I knew we were in for an aural treat.

Philip and Shiwei turned out to be two of the friendliest people I have had the pleasure to meet. When I spoke with Shiwei before the banquet began, she told me that she was attracted to Philip because of his kind nature. But she lamented that she'd only received flowers from him twice, when they first went on a date, and when he proposed. Well, Philip may need to up his game in terms of flower-giving, but he must have done something right during the courtship, because he won Shiwei's hand in the end.

Congratulations Philip and Shiwei! Thank you for engaging us to make sweet music for your wedding celebration, and may you both be blessed with a blissful marriage!


Band: Hsin Yeow, Bevlyn, Matthew, Boon Chye


L-R: Bevlyn, Boon Chye, Philip, Shiwei, Hsin Yeow, Matthew
It was Matthew's last performance with us in December as he was due to fly off to the US for a holiday!
Must be why he's wearing that snazzy suit.

Repertoire:

I Finally Found Someone (1st March In), The Joy of Life (Instrumental), L-O-V-E, Forever in Love (Instrumental), A Whole New World, Always, Beautiful In My Eyes, Dream A Little Dream, Fly Me To The Moon, Especially For You, 我是真的付出我的爱(I'm Really Giving You My Love), 梁山伯与茱丽叶 (Liang Shan Bo & Juliet)

I Just Can't Stop Loving You (2nd March In), Going Home (Instrumental), 出嫁 (Getting Married), Eternal Flame, 你的名字我的姓氏 (Your Name, My Surname), Masterpiece, In Love With You, Quando Quando Quando, 天天夜夜 (Day And Night), Sway


Songs To Recommend:

The Kenny G triumvirate, of course: The Joy Of Life, Forever In Love and Going Home

Upon Philip's request, I arranged for the above to be played at the start of the dinner, before the couple went to change. I also walked over to Philip's table to especially remind him to listen to Boon Chye's playing, because I knew he would be too preoccupied otherwise. True to his reputation, Boon Chye played the three Kenny G numbers with consummate skill and control. Bravo!

I Just Can't Stop Loving You - one of my favourite Michael Jackson songs ever

Especially For You - for those who can't shake off the memory of Kylie Minogue with Maggi Mee locks. Oh yeah, there's also Jason Donovan and his shock of blond hair.