7 Jul 2013: An evening at a park

7 Jul 2013:

After the performance at MuTh, members of the orchestra had dinner at the Restaurant Wiener Rathauskeller. I felt grateful to the amount of care that the organizers have put in to host the participants of the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival.

After the dinner, the bus brought us back to the hotel, Hotel Airo Tower.

It was summer in Vienna back in the month of July 2013. Although it was already about 8 p.m., the skies were still pretty bright. The evening seemed too young to head to sleep. My room-mate and I decided to check out the hotel's bar. Somehow, our minds decided to explore the park that was nearby the hotel.

The park was full of beautiful spaces. The park nearby the hotel offered a respite from the busy city life for its guests. It was a bit cold that evening so I was glad that I was wearing warm clothings. The colourful flowers were eager to greet all its visitors. The birds were chirping. How lovely to hear the birds sing. I was glad that I have made time to walk about the park. Nature is healing.

I later learnt that the name of the park that I had visited that evening is possibly Laaer Berg Kurpark. By the way, Hotel Airos Tower is located near a tram station. This station is the starting station of Tram 67. I felt blessed to have stayed in a hotel that was next to a park! It was healing to have stayed next to a park.

Value Investing in Growth Companies

Image source: http://www.millionaireinvestor.com/store/

Title: Value Investing in Growth Companies
Authors: Rusmin and Victor Chng
Publisher: Candid Creation Publishing (2011)

Earlier this year, I gave myself a challenge to learn more about value investing so as to enhance my level of financial literacy.

This book by Rusmin and Victor encapsulates the authors' personal experiences as value-growth investors and their knowledge on the subject. The examples that were given are relevant to the Singapore context and this makes it easier to relate to the examples. I like the way that the authors explained the differences between a value investor, a growth investor and a value-growth investor.

In this book, the authors discussed the following topics in the various chapters of the book:
1. The Making of a Value-Growth Investor
2. The Secrets of Successful Value-Growth Investors
3. The Jigsaw Puzzle - 4 Pieces to Value-Growth Investing.
4. Business
5. Management
6. Numbers
7. Valuation
8. Screen - Buy - Monitor - Sell
9. Portfolio Management for Growth Companies
10. Avoid Common Mistakes
11. Case Studies of Growth Companies using Jigsaw Puzzle Model

In general, I have found the language accessible. This book is generally easy to read. I may not recommend readers of the book to dive straight into investing after reading just this very book unless they have also done sufficient homework and 'scuttle butting' after reading the book. Nevertheless, this book is a fairly good way to initiate the reader into value-growth investing in the Singapore context.

While writing this reading log, I came across other reviews of this book. There were reviews that were favourable and there were reviews that discussed the limitations of this book. If you are only looking for the one and only ultimate book on value-investing (though I think it is rather limiting to read only one book and expect to learn everything about value-investing) then it helps to read through all the reviews of books on this subject matter before you start the read. For me, I would rather start with reading books that are accessible.

One of the good news for the authors, this book has been selected to be launched worldwide by one of the world's largest book publishers, John Wiley and Sons, Inc. To some extent, it speaks well of the quality of the book! Congratulations to the authors!

7 Jul 2013: Exploring Vienna

7 Jul 2013 (Sunday):

In July 2013, I participated in the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Competition in Vienna as a member of the National University of Singapore Symphony Orchestra. After the orchestra's turn playing at the Festival Competition at Wiener Musikverein, the members of the orchestra was given slightly more than an hour of free time to explore the nearby vicinity of Vienna.

Karlskirche
(St Charles Church).
This is a baroque church located on the south side of Karlsplatz in Vienna, Austria.

My room-mate and I decided to join one of our friends, who have travelled from another part of Europe to support us, to explore the area. We saw many cyclists on the road that day. I wondered what the occasion was. It was lovely to feel safe to cycle on the streets of Vienna. The streets of Vienna seem to encourage cycling. Cycling is far more affordable and environmentally friendly than driving cars! I wonder how long it would take for Singapore to create a special lane for cyclists?

After taking part in the Festival Competition, I decided to free myself from the dietary restriction of eating ice-cream. While I have a liking for delicious ice-cream, I would usually make a conscious effort to cut down on my intake of ice-cream since my body does not respond well to cold food and drinks. Then again, the ice-cream in Vienna was just too affordable for its quality to miss. For 2.20 Euros (about S$3.70), I was able to enjoy two scoops of quality ice-cream served in a delicious waffle cone! It is feasible to buy myself some happiness while I was in Vienna.

While exploring the areas near Wiener Musikverein, it totally slipped my mind that a friend had told me that if I had wanted to get myself a double bass bow, I could check out the shop at the Musikverein. Maybe this was a sign that I do not need a new double bass as yet?

I was amused to find myself passing by an opera toilet when I was walking about one of the nearby train stations. Interestingly, I could hear music coming from the toilet when I was passing by it!

Time passed very fast. Soon, the short break was over. Everyone in the orchestra had to gather and take the bus to MuTh (also known as Musik und Theater). The orchestra was to put up a performance at MuTh that evening. My visit to Vienna would be special and memorable because I would be performing in Vienna!

9 Jul 2013: The Farewell Reception

After the SCL Festival Gala Winners Concert on 9 July 2013, the night concluded with a farewell dinner reception at the Vienna City Hall. It was summer in Vienna that evening and the skies were still pretty bright at about 8.30 p.m.

Every participant of the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival patiently waited for our respective coaches to take us to the nearby Vienna City Hall.

At the Vienna City Hall, I was rather overwhelmed by the crowd. The hall was filled with the mood that was joyous and high-spirited. Catch the positive mood, it was infectious enough to cheer everyone. During the dinner reception, each of the participating groups was presented with a certificate of participation. Each of the winning groups was presented with an award.

SCL Dinner Reception.  Award Presentation on 9 Jul 2013.
Photo courtesy of Terence Low.

Joyful mood as friends come together.
Photo courtesy of Terence Low.

Perhaps what truly matter more were the friendships that were forged during the course of the festival and the memories that will remain in our hearts for a lifetime.

Photo courtesy of Ivan Goh.

At Vienna City Hall. Photo courtesy of Terence Low.

I would like to express my words of thanks to the organisers of the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival, the organising committee of the NUS Symphony Orchestra and everyone involved for making this tour to Vienna a successful and memorable experience for everyone.

9 Jul 2013: The SCL Festival Gala Winners Concert

In the evening of 9 July 2013, all the participants of the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival 2013 gathered at the Wiener Konzerthaus for the SCL Festival Gala Winners Concert. The concert was a ticketed event and there were many members of the public who were present to watch the concert.

The programme of the concert was as follow (source: http://www.sclfestival.org/results2013.htm):

Into the Sun in October - Xi Qiming/Wang Xiaolong (arr. Chen Guang’zhong)

Nanjing Lhasa - Tongtong Children‘s Choir (China) - Ling Song
1st place in the category “Children’s Choir” with excellent success

---

Lamma bada Yatathanna - Andalusian Folk Song (arr. Pnina Inbar)
Shani Girls Choir (Israel) - Anat Aharoni
2nd place in the category “Treble Choir” with excellent success

---

Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Freddie Mercury (arr. Anne Raugh/ Deke Sharon)
Xavier College Chamber Choir (Australia) - Richard O’Shaughnessy
1st place in the category “Male Choir” with excellent success

---

Bogoroditse Devo - Arvo Pärt
O du lieber Augustin IV - Herwig Reiter
Tallinn Music High School Chamber Choir (Estonia) - Janne Fridolin
1st place in the category “Mixed Choir” with outstanding success

---

Pueri concinite - Iacobus Gallus Handl
Svete Tihiy 9, No 21 - Pavel Chesnokov
St. Stanislav‘s Girls‘ Choir (Slovenia) - Helena Fojkar Zupančič
1st place in the category “Treble Choir” with outstanding success
Special award by Jeunesse Musicale Austria for the extraordinary and mature performance

---

Amavolovolo - Zulu Song
Menlo Park High School Choir (South Africa) - Jeanmari van Papendorp

1st place in the category “Mixed Choir” with outstanding success

---

---

Tamagawa Academy Symphonic Wind Orchestra (Japana).
Photo courtesy of Terence Low.

Glorisa, Symphonic Poem for Band - Y. Itoh

Tamagawa Academy Symphonic Wind Orchestra (Japan) - Akira Hasebe
1st place in the category “Symphonic Band” with outstanding success

---

The Singapore Management University Symphonia.
Photo courtesy of Terence Low.

A Festival Overture - Alfred Reed
Singapore Management University Symphonia (Singapore) - Adrian Chiang
2nd place in the category “Symphonic Band” with outstanding success

---

The Fiddlers op. 1 (Movements 1, 4 and 5) - Einojuhani Rautavaara
The Helsinki Strings (Finland) - Jukka Rantamäki
2nd place in the category “String Orchestra” with outstanding success

---

Divertimento B-flat Major, 2. Allegro di molto, 3. Allegro assai KV 137 - W. A. Mozart
Jugendkammerorchester VIOLINISSIMO (Germany) - Ulli Büsel
1st place in the category “String Orchestra” with outstanding success

---

Euregio Jeugdorkest.
Photo courtesy of Terence Low.

De getemde feeks (The taming of the Shrew) op. 25 - Johan Wagenaar
Euregio Jeugdorkest - Hans Casteleyn
1st place in the category “Symphony Orchestra” with outstanding success

---

"Summa Cum Laude Anthem"
(Music Is The Global Language)
Music by Michael Rüggeberg; Words by Gero Friedrich
Conductor: Markus Obereder

***

My favourite choral performance was that by St. Stanislav‘s Girls‘ Choir (Slovenia) conducted by Helena Fojkar Zupančič. The group simply looked like angels descending from heavens when they sang with their primarily white dresses.

Equally impressive was Menlo Park High School Choir (South Africa)'s rendition of Amavolovolo which was full of energy and contrast. For the audience who prefer some light-hearted amusement, Xavier College Chamber Choir (Australia)'s rendition of Crazy Little Thing Called Love has brought a lot of sweet surprises.

For the performances by the instrumental groups, Tamagawa Academy Symphonic Wind Orchestra's rendition was precise and clear. Euregio Jeugdorkest's rendition was outstanding and uplifting. As Euregio Jeugdorkest concluded the Gala Winners Concert with the Summa Cum Laude Anthem, all of us sang whole-heartedly. It was at that time when I felt a sense of sadness that the festival was coming to a close. The memories shall stay forever more. I felt thankful for the opportunity to have taken part in the festival.

Many thanks to the organisers of the festival for making it possible.