After Patrick started his Indonesian class, of course he did not forget to apply to join extracurricular activity in UNS choir. Though most of members had known his singing capability, he still had to pass Voca Erudita's audition. As predicted before, he was accepted and warmly welcomed to be the member of Voca Erudita. Young man born in December 14, 1985 practised so hard to both speak and sing Indonesian and Javanese language. He also had to make his body to be more "flexible" to dance and to make various movements during singing. Though those new activities were not easy, Patrick never gave up and consider those all as challenges. He got more emotional connection with Voca Erudita after he performed together with Voca Erudita in mini concert in April 2011. He felt closer with other members and satisfied for his first experience to perform as solid team in Voca Erudita.
[caption id="attachment_116715" align="aligncenter" width="649" caption="With other members of Voca Erudita. Photo by Adityo Faturrochman"][/caption]
It is bit unbelievable, but Patrick truly has bunch of love for Indonesia. He wants to sing Indonesia Raya, Indonesian National Anthem after reaching the dream to gain victory in International choir competitions. His dreams started to build by participating Voca Erudita to compete in 1st Bandung International Choral Competition July 1- 4, 2011 and 4th Grand Prix Pattaya in Thailand in July 20 - 24, 2011. The process before going to those competitions are also something forgettable for him. He experiences something called as "ngamen". It is Indonesian term to tell the activity of singing on the street to gain money. In Hong Kong, his activity in International choir competitions are fully supported by government, but here, his team needs to add some more money though they also have got subsidy from university and some institutions' sponsorship.
[caption id="attachment_116712" align="aligncenter" width="576" caption="Chung Wing Yeung has a big love for diving and doing choral conservation. Photo by Rizya Adiwijaya"][/caption]
Patrick who has dived in Indonesia (Berau, Bali, Karimunjawa, Ujung Kulon and Bunaken), Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan, and USA also shares his love feeling to his Voca Erudita members. He considers Voca Erudita is his big family. All the members have the same "way of life" as they posses the same spirit of "music is our life". Patrick loves the way how he and his friends make funny jokes and stupid tricks. "Voca Erudita members are fun and crazy", he said. He imagines, if he has known more about Indonesian and Javanese language, he will certainly be happier since he will also know the complete meaning of their friends' jokes. He also often hangs out with Voca Erudita members to visit some interesting spots in Indonesia. From his friendliness, Patrick easily gets a lot of friends. Ardhyanto Restu Widodo, his Voca Erudita friend mentions that maybe most students of UNS knows Patrick because he is very friendly and easy going.
[caption id="attachment_116709" align="aligncenter" width="576" caption="Chung Wing Yeung got birthday surprise from his friends from Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Photo by Chung Wing Yeung"][/caption]
Then how other friends outside Voca Erudita see Patrick? Phatraphon Uno, the Darmasiswa student from Thailand with the same batch as Patrick says that Patrick is lovable person since he is very helpful to his friends. Patrick is also crazy friend with crazy jokes, but it makes him more interesting to be friend. However Uno, also says that Patrick is very busy until he does not have much time to spend the days with other International students. But it is something understandable since. Patrick recognizes that he has to reduce some times with other International students to focus to practise before his choir competitions, but he still always tries to get involved into International students' activities when he is free like attending International students' birthday party or accompanying them in airport when they will get back to their home country.
Rizky Adi Yanuasari, task force of International Office of UNS says "Patrick is extraordinary for both inside and outside performance" He can be very crazy to get fun with friends but he can still be serious boy who is very diligent to study.
[caption id="attachment_116710" align="aligncenter" width="479" caption="Chung Wing Yeung in action. He can be crazy but can suddenly split to be very serious. Photo by Chung Wing Yeung"][/caption] That's a little story about Patrick and his Voca Erudita. Of course, he has a big love for Hong Kong, the place where he comes from, but deep inside his heart he also have bunch of love for Indonesia.Xie XiePatrick. Indonesia loves you, too Patrick. May you and Voca Erudita can always be solid to keep singing for the world.
to be continued
For reading the fourth series of “Sing for the World” about Voca Erudita’s achievements in the 1st Bandung International Choir Competition, please click here: Sing for the World Part IV: Beautiful Melodies in Bandung.
