Spring Orchestra
In 1997, John was invited by an association to join their band, and John became the orchestra’s main drummer. This band was committed by a group of handicapped people. It lets the handicapped people who dislike contacting with people to comfort their feelings, and reach the result to recover their mentally sickness. At the same year’s October, this association did a performance in the Labor’s Community Center in Kaohsiung, and John was the main character inside, this was also the second time he did a performance after the “International Talent Tryout Prize”.
Actually, John isn’t very accommodated with so many audiences. John first thought that enrolling in this band is just playing music with some handicapped friends, and he is willing to play drums for the handicapped hands there, but he never thought the band will schedule them to act out. Therefore, he braced himself to step out again.
In May, 1998, John’s mother was honored “Taiwan’s Best Mother Prize”, this award was very suitable for John’s mother. John’s mother took care of John for thirty years, so instead of saying this award is an approval to John’s mother, it is more a consolation to her. Later on, when John’s mother met with President Li, the president cared about John’s condition., therefore, John’s mother made a description from how John got sick, John’s operations, how the injection made John blind and how John was poisoned from salicylic acid by exchanging his joints. The President was impressed with John’s spirit, so he told the Kaohsiung Mayor Wu:”Since John has this talent, then we can’t let him stay submerged. Also, if John can say one word in the public, then it is more important than a normal person to say lots of words.”
John and his handicapped friends are happy together in Spring Orchestra
Establishing The Kiwi Orchestra
In August, 1998, Prior President Li came to see John suddenly. This made John’s family very excited. John asked his mother to write a letter to the President for him. The contents mainly are about John’s skills and about John wishing to use his skills to earn the guarantee of life. Last but not the least, John mentioned: “I don’t want others to give me fish to eat. That makes me lose my dignity, and it means nothing to me. What I want is a fishing rod.”
Later on, when John’s mother met with President Li, the president cared about John’s condition., therefore, John’s mother made a description from how John got sick, John’s operations, how the injection made John blind and how John was poisoned from salicylic acid by exchanging his joints. The President was impressed with John’s spirit, so he told the Kaohsiung Mayor Wu:”Since John has this talent, then we can’t let him stay submerged. Also, if John can say one word in the public, then it is more important than a normal person to say lots of words.”
Not long after this, the Kaohsiung city government gathered John’s family to discuss about the band. At last, they decided to set the band at a school in Nantzu District. The band’s director was the school’s principal and the vice director was John’s father. In November 19th, 1998, the band for John was established.
At first, there were only three members in the band. John was the drummer, and the another two members were the keyboarder and another one who plays a small flute. After three months, the number of members increased to ten members. All the members will gather to practice on Saturdays. The new members mainly have experience in performing in balls and cafeterias. Therefore, they often use rougher words. John wasn’t used to this. Not after a long time, the new members asked for separating to practice. Because of this, the relationship between the members weren’t very good. There was even a time that John wanted to give up.
After John’s mother understood the problem, she told the band director about this. Therefore, the director said to everyone: “When it’s time to practice, John has to be included, because this band was established for John. Plus, you can enroll in here because of John. So, don’t look down at John because you had lots of experience.” John’s mother also tried to communicate with the members, and told them they can teach John if they think John isn’t good enough at playing. After a few communications, the disputes ended.
John is very glad to meet president Li Qian
The Origin of the Name
A name is required to establish a band, and the band director was having a headache for this, so he asked everyone to present names for him to decide. One day, the director asked about the name of the band.
“Mr. Director, do you know who named ‘Kiwi Orchestra’?” John’s mother asked.
“I don’t know! So many people gave name, and I thought that ‘Kiwi Orchestra’ was the best name.” The director replied.
“Though the look of Kiwi isn’t very good, but it is very nutritious. Much like our handicapped friends, they may have defects on their outlook, but they have a lot of intension.” John’s mother explained.
“John’s mother, how can you be so familiar with the reason of the bands name?” The director asked.
John’s mother grinned: “Because the name was named by John!”
“Huh? By John” The director looked at John with disbelief. Now he understood that John really does have lots of intension inside his body.
John established KiWi orchestra at last