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Charity competition fills audience with "Glee"

By Zhao Wen | May 29, 2013, Wednesday | Print Edition

NO matter in what era, music and dance are the most original ways for people to send a message of joy and sadness and the most direct way to touch one's heart using the body's inner strength.

Simply out of their love for singing and dancing, more than 40 students from international schools in Shanghai and Beijing took part in the first Glee Shanghai Competition earlier this month, presenting a spectacular "Little Stars Concert" from musical to pop songs, solo to chorus.

The competition was inspired by the hit American TV show "Glee," which focuses on the adventures of a high school glee club, interspersed with imaginative remakes of popular songs.

Contestants included students aged between 10 and 19 years old from 11 of Shanghai's international schools.

The competition also attracted the attention from students outside Shanghai. Tea Ning, a 12-year-old student from Beijing International Bilingual School, was selected as one of the finalists to compete at the final at the Qianshuiwan Cultural Center on Yichang Road.

Wearing a plaid cap over her black curls, Ning sang "On My Own" from "Les Miserables." Under the glare of the spotlight, her clear and melodic voice earned her a round of spontaneous applause from the audience.

She was awarded the Shooting Star Award for her soulful performance.

Ning said she learned about the competition from a friend and decided to have a try because she loves singing so much. She uploaded a three-minute sample video clip on video-sharing website youku.com on April 11 as an application for the competition. She made the final three days later.

"My mom woke me one night and told me I was in the final," Ning told Shanghai Daily. "I was so happy!"

She practiced the song for half an hour every day before the competition.

Ning's parents and her little sister also came along with her from Beijing to Shanghai to support her.

"We set out at 5:30am and flew to Shanghai to catch the rehearsals at 3pm," said Ning's father, who is a Chinese and has two daughters with his French-American wife.

Ning's father said he was delighted that his daughter took part, especially after learning that Glee Shanghai Competition is benefitting charity.

All proceeds are going to support the development of a school in Cambodia and to help disadvantaged children in the area.

Antoine Reffe, 14, a student from French School of Shanghai's Pudong campus, caught the eye of the audience and judges for being the only male contestant.

The French teenager gave a husky rendition of classic song "What a Wonderful World," made famous by Louis Armstrong.

"I chose the song because a lot of people are familiar with it. I hope my singing echoed with the audience," Reffe told Shanghai Daily. He was awarded the Best Male Soloist on that night.

The Glee Shanghai Competition is more than a singing competition for youth in the international school community to showcase their singing talents.

The plan was hatched about two months ago, to help raise fund for the construction of a school in Siem Reap, Cambodia, said Ann James, of expat theater company Urban Aphrodite and one of the producers of the competition.

Another co-producer was Shelley Bragg, founder of the charity Still Chasing Rainbows and director of admissions and mareketing at Western International School of Shanghai.

"When we met to discuss ideas for a benefit, we were originally thinking of a kind of revue production of the musical "Grease' at Shelley's school," explained Texan James.

"But then the idea expanded into an international school competition, like the TV show 'Glee.' The interest was huge and we had no problem attracting some of Shanghai's most talented teens," she added.

James said kids were allowed to pick their own songs and shine in their own way. "We emailed international schools and at first didn't think we would have anybody. But more than 60 students entered, which is great," she said.

WISS already has strong links with the Cambodian community it is helping. A group of 65, including students from Grade 6-11, visited Siem Reap in April to help build three houses and create four vegetable gardens.

Students planted trees, sawed wood and painted buildings. The project next aims to build more facilities, such as classrooms, a clinic and dormitory.

"I visited Cambodia and it's such an amazing place - it really inspired me to do something for this charity," said Hazel Otula, a contestant from the British International School Shanghai's Pudong campus.

About 200 people, mostly parents and friends of the contestants, watched the competition. About 10,000 yuan (US$1,630) were raised from ticket sales.

Other winners included: Georgina Noble-Owens, 14, from BISS Pudong of the Best Solo Female Vocalist; "The Sparks" (Isabella Gualano and Ria Patel) from BISS Pudong of the Best Group Vocalists; "The Wissettes" from WISS of the Best Choreography; Asha Lueveno from WISS of the Best Vocalist; and Sho Sho Ho for the Little Star Most Promising Young Artist.

Three of the winners were also given a special prize of studio time at professional recording studio dbStudios in Tianzifang.

Lydia Ma, a student majoring in voice and opera of East China Normal University and one of the three guest judges for the competition, said she was amazed at the young talents, and encouraged all the contestants to "keep singing."

The other two judges were Miss Earth China contestant Cissy Zhou and Ford Motor Co's Joe Pinon, a self-confessed "Glee" addict.

Pinon said he hoped more males would enter next year.

"We were thrilled at the success of the competition," said James. "Next year they plan to include more local schools and donate the money to needy people in China."

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