SINGAPORE - Some 150 young performers, including talent from overseas, put up a strong showing over the two-day auditions for this year's annual charity concert ChildAid.
A group of four singers from Misi Bagi Bangsa school in Batam, Indonesia, who took a ferry to Singapore on Saturday (24 June) morning, performed the song We Are the World written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie in 1985.
"We were a bit nervous at first, but we kept calm and tried our best. I'm so happy that we made it through the audtion and I think we'll get in," said group member Fevrier Eunike Wewengkang, 11.
The other members comprised Tesalonika Purba, Adelaine Kezia Sianturi, and Valentinus Metodian Madu Senda, all 12 years old.
In the auditions on Friday and Saturday, many talented children showcased their abilities in singing, dancing, emceeing and playing musical instruments.
They faced seven judges, including prominent musician Indra Ismail and the first Campus Superstar winner Ng Chee Yang.
Sharon Huang, 15, a flautist, said: "I picked up the flute because my dad also plays it. I hope that I'll get in so that I can invite my family to watch me perform."
This is the 13th edition of ChildAid, organised by The Straits Times (ST) and The Business Times (BT).
The concert benefits ST's School Pocket Money Fund, which gives an allowance to children from low-income families, and BT's Budding Artists Fund, which gives financially disadvantaged children opportunities to explore the arts.
For the first time, the concert will have Singapore's leading singer-songwriter Dick Lee as its creative director.
"The audtions have been very good and there has been a diverse mix of performers," said ST's news editor Marc Lim, who is the concert's co-organising chairman.
Mr Indra said: "It's sometimes challenging to work with children because they're very active, but it's also rewarding. They listen, they practice hard, and they want to be in the show."
Results will be known on July 30.
