ENDA Episode 146→ The time when ENDA bid farewell to the stages

In a previous series, I left something unsaid about one of my last performances, because it wasn’t just another recital. It was a farewell.

After years of concerts and anime-themed recitals, I had made a life-changing decision: I was leaving my country. It was the right move for my future… but it also meant leaving behind many people who had become part of my second family, especially my music group.

I had gotten used to rehearsing with the singers, the orchestra, and the band. And of course, my pianist friend, the one who first believed in me when I stepped into this world. When I told him this would be my last concert, he was shocked. Big events were in the works and he had expected me to be part of them. Still, he wished me the best. We knew this would be our final stage together.

The setlist was arranged: two songs as the main pianist, both with full orchestra, and others as support.

But there was one more song. One we’d quietly saved for last.

It was the second ending from a well-known 2012 anime. A rock ballad: soulful, emotional, piano at its core. I had played it before at a small show, but this time it would be on the big stage. A proper send-off.

Originally, it was going to be just the singer and me. But one of the percussionists I had befriended early on joined us on drums. A final trio.

The night came. Every piece went as planned. No stage fright. No fumbles. Just flow. The concert ended. But then, the singer took the mic and called for everyone’s attention. She announced one final piece as a farewell to me. When she mentioned the anime’s name, the crowd erupted.

We began.

I didn’t think, I just played. Every note felt right. Even the difficult bridge didn’t faze me. And then, the outro came. We slowed down and on the piano solo, I landed on the final E chord. The crowd erupted in applause and I knew that each of them was well deserved.

That night, I said goodbye to every musician I had met. And a few days later, I boarded a flight to the New World.

I haven’t played on a stage since. But the memory is alive every time I practice. And whenever I visit, I meet up with my old pianist friend.

Takeaway: Sometimes we leave behind things we like to pursue what we love.

Would I return to the stage someday? Maybe. If I find the right people to play with. Because music, like compositing, isn’t about showing off how well you play, but how beautiful music sounds when we play together.

The journey continues…