Another two aspiring singers who are based in Singapore will be in China tomorrow to audition for singing competition China Super Vocal, which is judged by Mandopop king Jay Chou and other veterans.
Malaysian music teacher Lynn Chong, 25, and Chinese student Curley Gao, 17, join the three announced last week: freelance graphic designer Elizabeth Low, 22; former Singapore Idol finalist Olinda Cho, 35; and Campus Superstar champion Ng Chee Yang, 26.
The five will be facing the four celebrity judges of China Super Vocal in Shanghai tomorrow. The results are expected to be out on Thursday.
This year's local auditions are organised by veteran radio deejay Eeva Chang Mei Hsiang's Eeva Productions.
Chang, 50, had persuaded the China production team to allocate another two spots to singers from Singapore. She says: "A representative from the production team came down to watch the finals and was impressed by their vocals. I jumped at the chance to ask to send more people to China."
She sent over the audio recordings of the other nine finalists and the production team selected Chong and Gao, who are not Singaporeans, unlike the earlier three picked by a judging panel here that includes singer-songwriters Dick Lee and Paul Lee Wei Song.
Chong, who gives piano and vocal lessons for a living, says: "I screamed when I got the call. I'm so excited to have the chance to go to China. I hope to get picked by Chou because I've been listening to his songs since I was young."
Dunman High student Gao, who has been studying here since she was nine, says: "I was all ready to go back to school life when I received the good news. I was so happy. I've always loved singing and my dream is to be a singer."
Although the China production team did not explain why the two contestants were picked, Lee Wei Song says Chong has a sweet and powerful voice, while the youthful Gao has great potential with her unique husky vocals.
Lee, 47, adds: "The five contestants' vocals have their own characteristics. My advice to them is display the Singapore spirit - be kiasu. The competition is stiff. They should treasure every chance to perform and show their full potential even at the rehearsal."
Formerly called The Voice Of China when it launched in 2012, China Super Vocal is being branded as a new show due to a legal dispute with the Dutch format owner.
The four previous seasons were a ratings hit from the get-go. The first season in 2012 attracted more than 120 million television viewers and 400 million Internet users, according to the South China Morning Post. The show's past winners include Zhang Bichen, a former member of K-pop group Sunny Days.
