In New York

“Be happy when you play, not sad!” our violin faculty member Mr. Adamopoulos used to repeat when we all first arrived in Chiayi three weeks before the launch of our World Tour on July 25th. Twenty-one days later today, we have come a long way. No longer do we need to be told. Instead, we are feeling from the heart the joy of being together, grateful for the opportunity to perform. No longer are we hesitant to show how much we love doing what we do -- we are instead eager to express our enthusiasm.

Having fun with the toy trumpets on display at the Tilles Center

Our concert tonight at the Tilles Center in New York was a perfect occasion for our expression of joy, as we successfully brought to close the U.S. segment of our World Tour. The performance was the last of the five U.S. concerts, four of them with the amazing soloist Sarah Chang. It was indeed a celebration.

When it comes to celebrating, Mr. Pontzious can be at his most mischievous. Our musicians on stage tried their hardest to suppress their laughter during the encore of the William Tell Overture, as the Maestro walked through the sections, flipping the music sheets on the stands as well as waving from the back.

The audience loved our sense of fun. We loved our audience too for the wonderful and warm showers of cheers, applause, and a standing ovation.

Tomorrow, with the wonderful memories of our time here in the U.S. packed carefully in our hearts and suitcases, we will head to the John F. Kennedy International Airport, ready to cross the Atlantic to Europe. As we continue our World Tour from “Asia to the World,” there is so much still that lies before us. Here we come.