Performance Journal – West Ryde Easter Celebration

Performing at the West Ryde Easter Celebration was a unique and memorable experience. This time, instead of an organ or grand piano, I performed on a Roland stage piano set up outdoors in the park. The instrument had weighted keys and a sustain pedal, but the overall touch felt quite different from what I am used to.

Playing outdoors brings a completely different kind of awareness. The sound was amplified and broadcast across the park, so instead of hearing the instrument respond directly in a hall, I had to trust the audio system. The quieter, more expressive moments didn’t quite respond back to me in the same way, but the sound system did a great job projecting the music, especially in the more powerful sections.

The piece itself was around ten minutes long, and towards the end, I encountered an unexpected challenge, the sustain pedal kept slowly moving forward on the floor. I had to stretch my foot to keep contact with it while continuing to play, which added another layer of focus in an already demanding moment.

Despite that, the performance went well. After I finished, the audience responded warmly, with cheering and people coming up to congratulate me. It was a very encouraging and rewarding feeling.

Tiger Han performs at the West Ryde Easter Celebration in Anzac Park.

What stayed with me just as much as the performance itself was the atmosphere of the event. While waiting for my turn, I found myself casually talking to the person next to me. There was a sense that everyone and everything was in harmony—peaceful, cheerful, and connected. Families, children, and elderly members of the community all gathered together, celebrating not just the occasion, but a shared sense of community, friendship, and joy.

It reminded me that music is not only about performance, but about bringing people together.