Dear World Youth Choral Festival Choir members, members of the organizing committee, and all those whom I have offended in one way or another:

It has been brought to my knowledge recently that quite a few of you, or should I say a large number of you, have stumbled upon my blog where I posted not only derogatory comments about this festival, but also hurtful and spiteful comments aimed at the organizing committee itself. For those of you who have yet to encounter the misfortune of reading that particular post, it would be best that you remain in the dark as I am sorely embarrassed about what I have said on my blog.

I have clearly seen the error in my ways and have taken down my post. I know that I have displayed more than what people call “arrogance”, but also disrespect and disregard of the feelings of the organizing committee and you, the festival choir. To be honest with you, I originally posted that post as a joke, never ever intending to hurt or harm anyone in anyway, but after reflecting upon my foolish actions I realize I have not only done something stupid, but I might also have harmed the many people who have read my blog. This only goes to show my utter superficiality as well as absence of humility, and I have grown to realize that I should always think twice before acting on impulse.

I have thought a lot about this issue and here’s my take on it. I know this apology will not extend so as to cover all those whom I have hurt emotionally, and I do not expect in the least that all of you or any of you to forgive me for what I have most idiotically done. However, I do hope that you will at least be able to forgive others from now on who have negatively affected you for if there is one thing I have learnt being in a choir, it would be that a choir isn’t made up of individuals singing; it is made up of individuals who come together to sing as a team and it is vital that in order to push ourselves and the choir to the best we can be, there be strong bonds forged between its members.

Despite what I have said and posted on my blog, I have realized how much we have grown and mature together to produce the sound that we make now, and I have faith that we can do even better and produce the best we can on our concert on Saturday. I also have realized after re-reading and thinking a lot about what I said in my blog post that akin to what I have mentioned about a choir being a team, the reason why we sounded so bad when we first came together would be that we had yet to familiarize ourselves with each other and be able to work together. I have shown arrogance and superficiality beyond belief and have said things that I sorely regret. I have also realized how reluctant I was to get out of my comfort zone and mix around with the participants of this festival, and it really is a mistake on my part, as till date all the people I have interacted with are amongst the nicest people I will have the fortune to meet in my lifetime.

By posting nonsense as I have, I have not only tarnished my own name, but also the name of my school, my choir and my friends. I kindly beseech you to not hold it against anyone else but I, and I intend to bear full responsibility for my actions. I originally intended to pull out of this festival, but I realize that by doing that I would only be evading the problem and not solving it. Instead I have decided to put in my all into this festival and respect it for what it is. I hope you do not have a problem with my decision.

I also note that there is a blog which has quoted my blog post in question and I do hope you may forgive the blogger too.

I apologize as well as on behalf of other people who have hurt any of you in general, be it said or typewritten. I have already spoilt my personal image and I do not have the audacity to hope to repair that image in your hearts by apologizing. Once again, I am really sorry and I regret my actions and I hope you can forgive everyone involved, if not, everyone excluding me.