On August 30, 2025, the 10th “Global Chinese Vocal Competition” organized by NTD Television entered its second day at the Merkin Hall of Kaufman Music Center in New York. The semi-finals were open to the public on that day.
A real estate manager from New York, Gustavo Segredo, along with his family and friends, attended the semi-finals of the NTD Vocal Competition that day. Segredo, a senior amateur singer with 25 years of singing experience, has performed in various notable theaters and music venues in New York, ranging from church choirs to popular songs.
Segredo expressed his admiration for the competition, stating, “I am very impressed. I love Chinese, German, and Italian songs. The lyrics in different languages paired with beautiful melodies truly captivate me.”
He particularly highlighted the performance of an American female singer, praising her seamless and natural singing. He remarked, “She sang very smoothly in high notes. The transition from one note to another without any trace of breath was truly amazing.”
Segredo emphasized the high level of difficulty in vocal singing and expressed his awe at the performances of most competitors in the competition. According to him, vocal singing requires exceptional skills and long-term training to appear effortless, despite the continuous daily practice behind the scenes.
He mentioned, “It requires very strict training. Like the lady who performed afterward, the way she beautifully executed staccato notes at the beginning and sustained high notes till the end was astonishing.” As he reminisced, he imitated her singing.
Segredo pointed out that achieving such a level of vocal proficiency requires “at least seven years of training. From high school to college, and then continuous practice. You can never stop.” He also stated that as one gets older, breath control becomes more crucial, saying, “You must plan every breathing point.”
“Do you know how to perform at Carnegie Hall?” he chuckled, “Practice, practice, and practice.”
Segredo believed that unlike popular music focusing on lyrics and beats, vocal singing emphasizes fluency and the utilization of syllables, such as vowel pronunciation. “That’s why you’ll hear opera songs sung in Italian, Spanish, or other languages. It’s a common practice.”
He expressed that music is one of humanity’s most significant values, akin to food and love, as it can connect people and convey emotions. He noted that every song tells a story, and the best singers can articulate the narrative. “Because every song is a story. Singers must understand that when they sing in different languages, they need to know the story they are singing and then perform it.”
Segredo praised the excellent performances of most participants, saying, “I could understand their singing.” The performance of a contestant from Taiwan evoked the tragic emotions and atmosphere conveyed by the songs.
“You can feel it, especially when he sang that Chinese song, you could feel the sadness in the emotions. The song was very dramatic because at the moment of the pause in his singing, the piano also stopped. Then he sang again, another pause, followed by another segment… In the end, you can feel that sense of tragedy.”