Author: Music and Stars Awards

Meet Lalita Vetchabutsakorn, a talented 10-year-old singer from Bangkok, Thailand. From a young age, Lalita enjoyed singing karaoke and dancing with her dad. She started taking vocal lessons in February 2022 with her coach, Ms. Onwara, after singing at home for a while.

Lalita has a passion for K-pop music, with BTS and Newjeans being her favorite K-pop groups. Her dream is to become a singer like them in the future.

Lalita is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Music & Stars Awards competition. She enjoyed practicing and singing the song for the competition and had a great time during the event. Lalita hopes to participate in the competition again next year and continue pursuing her passion for singing.

Zhen Tat Kai, a native of Hong Kong, has embarked on his journey as a professional pianist by studying under the guidance of Mr. Tung Yee Tsun since 2021. Kai has developed a keen interest in playing classic, jazz, and modern piano music. Whenever he plays on stage, he exudes passion and finesse. His ardor for playing the piano is evident in each of his performances, as he showcases his varied playing skills and emotions.

This year has been a milestone for Kai, as he has achieved remarkable success in different music organizations and won several piano competitions worldwide. These accomplishments are a testament to his dedication, hard work, and exceptional musical talent.

Kiyo Nai Yow Jia is a six-year-old Malaysian prodigy who hones her craft at the Cartoon ART music center. Her musical prowess has secured her the first/gold prize in international music competitions across 15 countries, including England, America, France, Italy, China, Japan, Switzerland, Canada, Estonia, Bosnia, Austria, Spain, Serbia, and Greece. The competitions she excels in are diverse, ranging from age and grade categories to classical, jazz, modern, and original composition.

Kiyo’s remarkable achievements extend beyond her age, as she has received the highest marks and accolades reserved for competitors much older than her. She has also been invited to perform at winner concerts, including the world-renowned Carnegie Hall in New York. Her achievements have been featured in Chinese and English news in her home country, earning her recognition in the Malaysia Book of Records.

In addition to her string of international wins, Kiyo also attained the ABRSM piano grade 5 certification at the tender age of five. Her music serves as a tool to promote healing and support charitable causes such as UNICEF and other events.

Kiyo’s exceptional talent has also earned her numerous scholarships from prestigious institutions around the world. Her music is not merely a means of performance but also an avenue for altruistic endeavors.

My name is Almz Jim Yu Shue, and I was born in Hong Kong in 2015. I discovered my love for the Djembe at the age of four when Mr. Daniel Odame Kissi visited my school and played his Djembe. The passion, heat, and raw sound of the music that Mr. Daniel played fascinated me so much that I decided to start learning from him.

After Mr. Daniel emigrated and moved to the UK, I began taking lessons with Mr. Kienou Mamadou and have been practicing with him for a year. I practice the Djembe for about two hours per week and sometimes even practice slapping my thighs in my daily routine to improve my skills.

In November 2022, I received my first award from a local Hong Kong music competition, the Children & Youth Arts & Culture Association. Since then, I have won several awards in both local Hong Kong and international music competitions. Through these competitions and busking, I am refining my skills and building my confidence.

Like any other child, I am a general student at the G.T. (Ellen Yeung) College (Junior Primary Section), and I also enjoy playing “GO” chess and fencing. I try to maintain a balance between my extracurricular activities, such as critical thinking, interactive communication, courage, facing challenges, self-learning, and problem-solving.

Although Hong Kong is widely known as a global metropolis with a bustling city life, it also has a diverse ecosystem and breathtaking views. Many Hong Kongers go hiking in the countryside during their free time to surround themselves with nature, and I often go hiking with my parents. Despite being the youngest climber to climb Hong Kong’s highest peak, I am planning to challenge Mount Everest soon.

“I hope to provide more opportunities for people to learn about the Djembe, which expresses the deepest thoughts of our original civilization and the colors of the universe, through my presentations.”

Meet Sara Nishino, a talented young violinist from Tokyo, Japan. Born in 2011, Sara started playing the violin at the age of 5 after falling in love with a fractional-sized violin she found in a music store. Since then, she has made remarkable progress in her career.

At the age of 6, Sara participated in her first competition and has since won numerous awards, including first prize at the “All Japan Junior Classical Music Competition” and recognition from the “Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education”. In 2022, she won second prize at the “International Junior Competition” and participated in the “Student Music Concours of Japan.” She also performed as a child performer in the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra’s “Subscription Concert for Children” in December 2022.

Sara’s love for music is largely due to the support and encouragement of her teachers. Ms. Megumi Morishima taught her the basics and instilled in her the joy of playing music. Currently, Sara is taking lessons from Ms. Mayuko Kamio, a world-renowned violinist and a professor at Tokyo College of Music. Ms. Kamio’s passionate and exciting lessons always inspire Sara to learn something new.

Even with her busy schedule as a student, Sara always finds time to practice the violin at home. She loves singing and playing other instruments too, but her goal is to continue to love and enjoy music while improving her skills as a violinist. She hopes to be able to perform various songs in the future and make a name for herself in the music industry.

Fong Ching, a talented young pianist, was born in Hong Kong at the age of 14. He began his professional piano studies at the age of four under the tutelage of concert pianist and conductor Professor Andy Tung Yee Tsun. With a solid foundation in finger technique and a sensitive touch on the keyboard, Ching is quickly becoming one of the most promising classical pianists in the world. He approaches each performance with a poetic sense of musical thought, striving to convey a sense of perfection to his audiences.

In addition to his remarkable talent, Ching has also been the recipient of numerous international awards, showcasing his musical prowess on a global stage. His exceptional skills and dedication to his craft have set him on a path towards becoming one of the greatest pianists of his generation.

Hailey Chan, a young pianist from Richmond, BC, Canada, has been making waves in the music world since she began studying piano with Ms. Michelle Hsieh at the age of 7. Ms. Hsieh has been a great inspiration to Hailey and has motivated her to constantly challenge herself. As a result, Hailey has won various competitions and will soon be performing at Carnegie Hall in New York.

Hailey has a dream of becoming a professional musician when she grows up. Her ultimate goal is to travel around the world for performances and share her experiences through social media. However, Hailey is not just a talented musician; she is also passionate about environmental issues. She has chosen to focus on humanitarian projects that address the problem of plastic pollution.

According to Hailey, most plastic products ultimately end up as waste, polluting our environment. She hopes to use music to bring awareness to this issue and promote finding sustainable waste management solutions. Hailey is a young musician with a big heart and a passion for making a positive impact on the world.

Born in Beijing, China in 2012, Selena Zhang started playing the piano at the age of five and a half. After trying various activities, including soccer, softball, ballet, tap, and chess, Selena discovered her love for the piano. Her first competition experience was in 2019 when she was seven, and since then, she has won several awards, including first place in the American Protege International Music Talent Competition Spring 2020, the 2021 Golden Classical Music International Competition, and the 2022 summer and fall Global Genius Competition.

In December of 2021, Selena Zhang began studying with Dr. Jenny Q Chai, founder of FaceArt Institute of Music. Under Dr. Chai’s tutelage, Selena Zhang has gained extensive knowledge about the piano and the different eras of music history. Dr. Chai has also taught her how to sight-read, identify wrong notes, and practice effectively. Selena Zhang’s dedication to practice, combined with Dr. Chai’s guidance, has helped her improve her technique, build confidence, and find joy in playing.

Selena Zhang practices for approximately two hours a day, beginning with 20 minutes of warm-ups, such as scales, arpeggios, Hanon exercises, and finger strength training. She then focuses on repertoire, with a keen eye on the quality of her playing. Selena Zhang favorite types of music are classical and pop. Classical music brings her a sense of calm, while some pieces evoke bold and strong emotions. Pop music is happy and upbeat, but can also convey strong feelings.

Selena Zhang’s greatest accomplishment to date is winning her first piano competition in 2019, with the help of her family, who provided support and guidance. Her piano teachers have also played a crucial role in teaching her how to express her feelings through music. To prepare for performances, Selena and her friends rehearse to build confidence and experience performing in front of an audience.

Selena’s ultimate dream is to become a professional pianist and use the power of music to bring joy and happiness to people’s lives. With her dedication and talent, she is well on her way to achieving this goal.

Cheng Ho Hin, born in Hong Kong at the age of 12, has been studying piano under the tutelage of concert pianist and conductor Mr. Andy Tung Yee Tsun since he was eleven years old. His interest lies in classical and romantic music, and his performances exude an artistic temperament. Hin aspires to fuse his musical imagination with elegant and gentle gestures during his live performances, which captivates and intoxicates the audience.

This year, Cheng became an accompanist of his school orchestra, performing on various stages for festivals and celebrations.

Cheng’s musical talent has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the 2nd Prize in the UK International Music Competition 2022 – Baroque (UK), Silver Prize in the 2022 European Music Competition (UK), Bronze Prize in the European Classical Music Pianist Award 2022 (UK), 3rd Prize in the UK International Music Competition 2022 (UK), Special Mention in the International BTHVN Wien Music Competition 2022 (Austria), Honour Mention in Music & Stars Awards 2022 (Germany), and Honour Prize in the Amadeus International Music Awards 2022 (Austria).