On October26th, the finals of the 9th International Students Singing Competition was held at the PKU Centennial Hall, as part of this year’s International Cultural Festival (ICF).
More than thirty international students had participated in the competition, and from amongst them, ten contestants have been selected to compete for the crown in the final. They had stood out among their rivals because of their exemplary performances in the preliminary round.
The first song of the night was a rendition of the song “It’s True (真的)”by Malaysian duo “Pisces” which comprised of Weng Yu Xiang (guitarist) and He Yi Xian (vocalist). This was followed by an impressive performance by Korean student Kang Sun Young, who captivated the audience with the rich emotions that she unleashed through the song “I’m in Love”. Another Korean student, Kang Dong Woong, did not let the audience down either with his rendition of the Korean song “Parking Lot”. With his naturally-controlled articulation of the song, Kang Dong Woong secured the highest score for the first round.
The spotlights next shone upon a student from Japan, Hayakawa Yuki. Through his heartfelt performance of the song “First Love”, the audience was visibly moved and immersed in the atmosphere he weaved. Toth Thomas from Hungary presented us with a Chinese song “Blue Lotus (蓝莲花)”, conveying to the audience his deep love for Chinese culture and his courage considering the language barrier that he must have faced. Chen Liu Jun from Malaysia also took up the challenge by singing Chinese pop song “The Love You Want (你要的爱)”. Italian student Edoardo Tancioni, who had ranked first in the preliminary contest, now showed the audience yet another side of himself by playing the piano and singing Adele’s “Someone like You”. Korean student Eui Seulwas was also well regarded by the judging panel due to her expressive and powerful voice. The first round ended with a deep and beautiful rendition of the song “Cruel Moonlight (残酷月光)”by Philippine student Cai Chengde.
After commenting on each contestant’s performance, the judges proceeded to select six contestants who will advance to the next round. These six contestants were then split into three groups for an exciting one-on-one battle.
The second round saw even fiercer competition amongst the six contestants. For instance, Toth Thomas gave his own twist to the classic Chinese song “Friends (朋友)”. Tears appeared on the stage when Kang Sun Young was too caught up in the moment during her rendition of “Where Has The Time Gone (时间都去哪儿了),and her voice trembled as she struggled to finish her performance. She later explained that she was emotionally affected by her parents’ presence.
Finally, three contestants, Kang Dong Woong，Edoardo Tancioniand Eui Seul were selected to vie for top place.
Each of the three contestants was fully prepared and high in spirits. Kang Dong Woong put his whole heart in his rendition of Jay Chou’s song “The Longest Movie (最长的电影)”. Edoardo Tancioni performed “Gravity” without accompaniment, shrewdly maximizing the effect of his deep and magnetic voice. The judges later commended his courage for choosing such a difficult song. Eui Seul once again showcased her solid vocal foundation as she belted out note after note with awe-inspiring precision.
It was then time for the award presentation ceremony. The “Best Stage Effect” award was awarded to Hayakawa Yuki, while the “Best Appearance” and “Best Arrangement” awards were presented to Kang Sun Young and Pisces respectively. Next, Toth Thomas was awarded the “Most Creative” Award. Finally, the top three places were unveiled amidst great suspense. Eul Seul and Edoardo Tancioni were ranked second and third respectively. The champion and star of the night was Kang Dong Woong, chosen by the audience and judges for his consistent and stellar vocal prowess that left a deep impression on everyone present.
The contestants are to be honored putting up such a wonderful show - this was certainly a night to be remembered!
Written by: Xin Yuan
Edited by: Chia Wai Kian
