Babies Proms 2010 : I Conducted The SSO !!!

I missed the Babies Proms last year, since it was too late to get tickets (all tickets were sold out when it was opened to public for booking). This year, Daddy managed to get his colleague, Auntie Rena, to get the tickets earlier. She is a Friends of SSO and can get the tickets much earlier, before the public can buy (otherwise, it would be the same as last year).

Since the Victoria Concert Hall is under renovation, so this year's Babies Proms is going to be held in the Esplanade !!! And therefore the ticket price is also more expensive. Daddy spent a total of $75 for a family of 3 ... but it is worth it, based on the experience 2 years back. The conductor is Uncle Peter Moore again and he is really funny and entertaining.

We had a slightly heavier breakfast since lunch would be a little later than usual. Reached the Esplanade at about 1130 hrs, so that we can join the pre-concert activities. Took some photos at the Esplanade, outside the concert hall.


Free balloons given out to the kids, and of course I requested for my favourite pink flower.



The concert program for the day


Took a family photo, before we went into the concert hall


The concert hall was really beautifully decorated with balloons of all colours and shapes (of musical instruments and notes) !!! Kind of similar decoration as 2 years back.

Only difference is this year, I have my own seat (which also meant that I need a ticket), with a booster seat so that I can watch the concert easily.


Daddy brought me to the front of the stage to take a photo.


Then, the pre-concert story telling started, with this jie-jie on stage. She told a story about a bear, who ventured into a cave and heard echoes everywhere. The story was interactive with the audience, where she told us to repeat after her, to sound like an echo .... although it was a rather short time for the story telling session, but I enjoyed myself a lot.



Auntie Ling Ling and her family came after the pre-concert activities, but just in time for the concert. Phew !!! And thanks to Auntie Rena who bought the tickets for us, we managed to sit together, close to the stage



Then, Uncle Peter Moore, the conductor appeared on stage, and everyone applauded !!! The concert formally started with the introduction of the various sections of the orchestra (woodwinds, brass, percussion and the strings). As the orchestra played an excerpt from a musical piece, Uncle Peter interacted with us, either telling us a story which depicted the mood of the music piece, or some interactive actions that blended in well with the rhythm.







And my favourite musical instrument went solo !!! The Trumpet. I told Daddy and Mummy that I want to play the trumpet when I grow up, since Daddy plays the clarinet and Mummy plays the french horn.

And the magical moment that I have been waiting for .... the moment that I conduct the SSO !!! What happened was that, while we were waiting outside the concert hall, waiting to go in, one jie-jie came up to us and asked Mummy how old I was. Then she asked me if I want to go up to conduct the orchestra later on. Of course I said YES. In fact, 2 years back when I saw all the older kids go up to conduct, I have always wanted to do the same. So early in the morning, I did in fact ask Daddy and Mummy whether I can conduct during the concert. So it was a wish came true !!!

The orchestra was supposed to play "Can-Can from Overture to Orpheus in the Underworld" and I were going to conduct that piece (think this was the same piece that was used 2 years back). So Uncle Peter told me to bow to the audience first

Then brought me up on the conductor stand, where I stood on a stool

Gave me the baton and told me how to conduct

And there I was to conduct the orchestra all by myself !!! I did OK initially, then I decided to see if the SSO can do better by going a little faster, and a little faster ... and faster .... and faster ... and gosh, the SSO played like a speeding train !!! Everyone laughed and I enjoyed myself so much



Now that I have conducted the SSO, wonder when can I conduct the finest and famous Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra .... heard they are coming to Singapore on 23 / 24 Nov .... so does that mean I have a chance ???

For the last piece, Uncle Peter invited all the children up on stage to be close to the orchestra members and stand beside their favourite instruments, while the orchestra played the piece. So I went to my trumpet section ....


The concert ended at 130 pm right on time, and I was really reluctant to go off .... but since it was past my lunch time, no choice but to go for lunch. On the way to lunch, I told Daddy I need to be carried, since conducting made me tired just now ... haha

Looking forward to next year Babies Proms 2011, and hope I can still have the chance to conduct the orchestra again