Yup! I would say that this year the standard overall actually improved! After listening to SYF since 2005, I'm quite glad to say that the overall standards have really improved tremendously. =) One of them I would say is Katong Convent. For some personal reasons I actually started listening to their playing in SYF since 2005, and batch after batch, they never failed to surprise me. I guess technically there's certainly always room for more improvements, but the improvement itself over the years is something that I feel exceptionally touching. =)
Well, I guess RV is a pity. Their choice piece is great, but the dynamics in their set piece makes me feel like I'm riding a roller coaster. (Well, on a totally random note, maybe it's the curse of the choice piece, since they got gold also when they played the same choice piece in 2005 and got gold also).
CCHS(Y) is fabulous I would really say. I really do not think it's anything particular to do with the taste. What I really feel is that what they managed to do that others don't is that they really showed us what is really called 表演. And I really see so much confidence in them that it do not feel like they are in SYF, but rather they are putting up a splendid show for all of us. It just reminds me that performance is more than just playing the right notes and playing the score correctly. It's also about 表现 and 演绎.
Well, the spirit that they displayed still sort of strike me even after so many hours. Kudos to them! =)
Ya... Katong Convent really improved a lot !!
they should actually get
Gold instead of Sliver... I still wondering why they get sliver -.-
