On September 21, 2024, the finals of the 9th Global Chinese Vocal Competition hosted by NTD took place at Merkin Hall of Kaufman Music Center in Manhattan, New York. Participants showcased their beautiful voices through singing classical Chinese poems, praising love, reminiscing about their homeland, and exploring the meaning of life. Their outstanding performances received enthusiastic applause from the audience.
After an hour and a half of competition, two gold medals were awarded to German female vocalists Zhang Chunqing and Li Le.
Other award winners include:
Silver medalist: American participant Liu Fengzhen.
Bronze medalists: American participants Ji Chucheng and Zheng Shaofeng, as well as Malaysian participant Wang Junwen.
Excellent awards were given to American participant Huang Jiayi, Canadian participant Zhang Yuchuan, Vietnamese participant Ruan Mingzhu, and South Korean participant Li Zhien.
Lucy Zhou, the organizer and director of the NTD competition, expressed great satisfaction with the successful event, noting the participation of many professional opera singers, vocal teachers, and students.
“The purpose of our competition is to promote traditional vocal arts, so I am very pleased to see so many professional singers taking part.” Zhou said. “I congratulate the winners and applaud them for showcasing their talent on this stage for the world to see!”
The award-winning participants expressed their gratitude to the NTD competition for providing a platform for Chinese vocalists to display their talents and the unique essence of Chinese traditional culture. They collectively thanked NTD Television for the opportunity.
German participant and gold medalist Zhang Chunqing received a standing ovation with her performance of “Moonlit Night on the Spring River,” showcasing her unique interpretation of the song as a coloratura soprano. She expressed her joy in being understood by the New York audience, calling it a significant achievement.
“My greatest gain is being able to interpret the beauty of Chinese culture with the voice of a mezzo-soprano. This is my biggest accomplishment, and this gold medal proves that I have succeeded in the challenge.” She stated after winning, “I am very grateful to the organizers of the competition. Everything about it feels heartwarming, like being back home.”
Another gold medalist, German participant Li Le, expressed surprise at receiving the top prize.
“I did not expect to win the gold medal. I thought entering the finals was already good because there were so many excellent singers from around the world, each with their own strengths.” She said, “Thanks to NTD for providing us with this opportunity.”
Silver medalist, Chinese participant Liu Fengzhen, impressed the audience with her unique interpretation of the beautiful piece “Youlan Opera” using traditional Chinese opera singing technique. She described winning the award as a “pleasant surprise” and expressed her love for the stage.
“I have never sung here before, so winning was unexpected, and I am thrilled.” She said, “Thank you to NTD Television.”
Malaysian participant Wang Junwen, who won the bronze medal with his performances of “My Heart Belongs to You” and “Hometown,” expressed his elation at being recognized for his sincere singing.
“I am feeling especially good now. I sang seriously, and now being acknowledged feels really good! I am very grateful to NTD for providing us singers with this platform, where I have made many friends. It is a precious experience.”
Recipient of the American bronze medal, Zheng Shaofeng, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the encouragement from the judges and teachers, saying, “This award is an encouragement for me. It has also helped me gain more stage experience and recognize my shortcomings. Thank you to NTD Television.”
American participant Ji Chucheng expressed his great joy at winning an award. “First and foremost, I am overjoyed, and I am very grateful.” He acknowledged the challenges in organizing an event like the NTD competition, calling it a significant encouragement for those in the Chinese vocal industry and a very positive start to his artistic career.
The finals of this competition attracted hundreds of spectators on-site. Chinese affairs commentator Chen Pokong was also present at the venue and commented on the unexpectedly high level of the competition.
“The level of the competition exceeded my expectations, with Chinese participants from around the globe bringing their own national styles. Not only was the level high, but there was also elegance.” He said, “As an audience member, I believe this competition is very meaningful, refreshing, and ignites everyone’s passion for vocal arts.”
Founder of the New York “Female Power” organization, Zhang Jing, expressed her appreciation for hearing beautiful vocal techniques in singing Chinese songs, stating that the NTD competition is unique in this regard.
“Overall, I feel the competition had a very high level, and the audience greatly enjoyed it.” She said. She mentioned that she had not known that Chinese songs could be sung so beautifully using classical vocal techniques, emphasizing the enjoyment of the high-level artistry presented in the competition. She expressed her hope for the NTD competition to continue and improve in the future.