New Talent Singing Awards Vancouver Audition

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New Talent Singing Awards Vancouver Audition (Chinese: 新秀歌唱大賽溫哥華選拔賽) or NTSA Vancouver for short, is an annual singing contest organized by Fairchild Television in Vancouver, held every July. The winner of the contest will represent the city of Vancouver in the NTSA International Finals, usually held in Hong Kong, organized by TVB.

1 Contest format
2 Contest venues
3 Special performing guests
4 Past winners and notable contestants
- 4.1 Contestant careers
5 Vancouver success in NTSA International
6 Trivia
7 See also
8 External links

[edit] Contest format

[edit] Original Format: Regional - North America - Hong Kong

From its start in 1994, 15 finalists ( 12 finalists from 1996 onwards ) competed in NTSA Vancouver for the top 2 spots. Those two contestants will then enter the NTSA North American Finals. 12 to 15 regional winners (and some runner-ups) from Canada and the US would compete for the title of North American champion. The North American champion would then compete as the "overseas contestant" in the NTSA Finals in Hong Kong.

[edit] International Event: Regional - Canada - International

With the emergence of several Australian, European and Asian cities like Melbourne, London, Amsterdam and Shanghai wanting to be included in the event, in 1997, TVB Hong Kong created the NTSA International Finals. Instead of having one "overseas contestant" from North America competing in the NTSA Finals ( now renamed the NTSA Hong Kong Regional Finals ), now each participating country would send regional representatives to compete in the NTSA International Finals ( much like an international beauty pageant would ).

With that, the North American Finals were cancelled starting that year. Fairchild TV continued to host the NTSA Canadian Finals to search for National representatives while the American cities just sent their regional winners directly to the NTSA International Finals.

In the NTSA Canadian Finals, representatives from 7 Canadian cities ( Toronto and Vancouver always sent two representatives while other cities: Calgary, Edmonton, Winnepeg, Victoria and either Ottawa or Montreal sent one ) would compete for the top 3 places, which would give them the opportunity to represent Canada and their city in the NTSA International Finals.

[edit] New Century, New Format: Regional - International

In 2000, Fairchild TV decided to scrap the NTSA Canadian Finals, and have one representative from each of the three cities that Fairchild TV is based in: Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary ( although sometimes Calgary and Edmonton would combine to produce one contestant representing Alberta ) to compete in the NTSA International Finals. Since this was the case, the winner of the regional competitions in those cities would directly enter the International Finals. The same year, Fairchild TV Vancouver decided to reduce the amount of finalists from 12 to 8, making the competition extremely intense. This was especially the case in the year 2000, arguably the year with the most talented contestants.

[edit] Contest venues

NTSA Vancouver is one of the two big annual productions for Fairchild Television Vancouver ( the other being Miss Chinese (Vancouver) Pageant ) and has been held at many state-of-the-art venues.

1994 Orpheum Theatre
1995 Gateway Theatre
1996 Plaza of Nations Outdoor Stage
1997 Tom Lee Music Theatre
1998 Plaza of Nations Indoor Glass Dome
1999 Radisson Hotel Ballroom
2000 Plaza of Nations Indoor Glass Dome
2001 Plaza of Nations Indoor Glass Dome
2002 Plaza of Nations Outdoor Stage
2003 The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts
2004 The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts
2005 The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts
2006 The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts At UBC

[edit] Special performing guests

Faichild TV would sometimes hire Asian singers or local artists to be the Special Guest(s) performing in the finals.

1994 No Special Guest
1995 Info not available
1996 Karen Tong 湯寶如 (1991 NTSA Top 5)
1997 No Special Guest
1998 Kenneth Wong 黃君諾 (1995 NTSA Vancouver Winner), Daniel Kwan 關浩正 (1996 NTSA Vancouver Winner), Phillip Lau 劉健濤 (1997 NTSA Vancouver Winner)
1999 No Special Guest
2000 Gabriel Harrison 海俊傑 (1994 NTSA Winner)
2001 Fei Fei Ding 丁菲飛
2002 JanaJana
2003 Brenda Lo 盧業瑂, Annabelle Louie 雷安娜, Albert Lui 雷有曜 (of the band 太極 Tai Chi)
2004 Pansy Lau 劉鳳屏, Thelma Leung 梁聖子, William Ho 何活權
2005 Wilfred Lau 劉浩龍 (1997 NTSA International Winner)
2006 Niki Chow 周麗淇

[edit] Past winners and notable contestants

Year	Contestant	Contestant Number	Song Selection	Placement
1994	Angus Ting 丁文俊	13	留住這時光	Winner
1995	Kenneth Wong 黃君諾	15	心碎了無痕	Winner
1996	Daniel Kwan 關浩正	4	留住這時光	Winner
1997	Phillip Lau 劉健濤	??	當愛變成習慣	Winner
1998	Jacky Chu 祝釩剛	6	男人不該讓女人流淚	Winner
1998	Ruby Lu 盧春如	12	Bad Boy	First Runner-Up
1998	Elva Hsiao 蕭雅之 ( 蕭亞軒 )	11	愛我久一點	Finalist
1998	Angela ( Michelle ) Hsu 徐佳期	9	他不愛我	Finalist
1999	Chantel Wang 王亞文	6	抱緊眼前人	Winner
1999	Jade Kwan 關惠文 ( 關心妍 )	7	臉	First Runner-Up
2000	Jordan Lin 林裕翁	6	找自己	Winner
2000	Benny Yau 邱穟恆	7	掌心	First Runner-Up
2000	Suzanne Chung 鍾煥燊( 鍾依澄 )	3	Sunny Day	Second Runner-Up
2000	Alex Lee 李崗霖	4	愛的牧羊人	Finalist
2001	Cindy Cheung 張瑋恩	4	別在傷口灑鹽	Winner
2002	Rita Leung 梁璟裕	3	全身暑假	Winner
2003	Warren Lo 盧韋綸	4	心有獨鍾	Winner
2004	Michael Lee 李今平	8	狂野如我	Winner
2005	Lorretta Chow 周美欣	8	Sunny Day	Winner
2006	John Lam 林子康	1	對不起,我愛誰	Winner

[edit] Contestant careers

1995 Best Stage Performance Award Winner James Chu (祝鏘鎛) went to Taiwan and was signed by Forward Music, a subsidiary of BMG Entertainment Taiwan. He released an album in 1998 under the stage name 楊軒. However, that album was ill-received, and he was dropped from his label. Since then, he has joined Jungiery (a talent company in Taiwan) and now makes up one half of songwriting duo VJ (who writes for popular groups such as 5566, 183 Club, and K-One), which is also slated to release their own album in 2006.
1996 Winner Daniel Kwan (關浩正) entered Fairchild Television and become a popular host for several years before deciding to go back to Hong Kong.
1996 First Runner-Up Victor Chow (仇耀斌) also became a host with Fairchild Television for a couple of years, often partnered with 1996 Best Stage Performace Award winner Lily Costas (邱莉莉). The two were later rumoured to be dating.
1997 First Runner-Up Aaron Wong (黃敏豪) later entered Fairchild TV and has hosted various programs until 2001 including a guest stint on What's On in 2000.
1998 Winner Jacky Chu (祝釩剛) ( brother of James Chu ) went on to capture First Runner-Up in the NTSA International Finals. He signed with Universal Music Taiwan in 2002 and released a solo album. That album did not sell very well and just like his brother, Jacky was dropped from his label. However, he was then tacked onto the Warner Music Taiwan musical quintet, 183 Club and finally found fame in 2005.
1998 Second Runner-Up Ruby Lu (盧春如) was signed to EMI Music Taiwan and released an album in 1999. However, the album received minimal promotion, which led to poor sales. She then turned to radio and is now a popular radio DJ in Taiwan.
1998 Finalist Elva Hsiao (蕭雅之) signed to Virgin Records in Taiwan and released her self-titled début in 2000 under the stage name 蕭亞軒. She is the first NTSA Vancouver contestant to succeed in the Asian music industry and is now a bonafide Asian diva.
1998 Finalist Angela Hsu (徐佳期), changed her name to Michelle and was signed to Sony BMG Entertainment in Taiwan. She was paired up with another girl to form the popular musical duo, 蜜雪薇琪 (Michelle*Vickie).
1999 First Runner-Up Jade Kwan (關惠文) went on to win the NTSA Canada Finals and won the Best Potential Newcomer Award in the NTSA International Finals. She signed a record deal with Hong Kong label BMA Music under the stage name 關心妍 and is now a popular Cantopop singer in Hong Kong.
2000 First Runner-Up Benny Yau (邱穟恆) was approached by Fairchild TV less than a month after he competed to host various programs on the station. He is now a very popular performer and presenter in Vancouver and still remains affiliated with Fairchild.
2000 Second Runner-Up Suzanne Chung (鍾煥燊) was signed to the management company owned by Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau. She had a bit part in the 2002 movie, "Dance Of A Dream" and also sang duets with Lau on the soundtrack under the stage name 鍾依澄. However, she has dropped off the radar since.
2000 Finalist Leslie Tsang (曽穎妍) was approached by Fairchild TV at the same time as Benny and became a host for them for the next 3 years. She is currently in Hong Kong.
2000 Finalist Alex Lee (李崗霖) signed with Virgin Records Taiwan and released his solo album in November 2005.
2001 Winner Cindy Cheung (張瑋恩) is currently a host for What's On for Fairchild TV and has hosted the NTSA Vancouver Finals for 3 years running ( 2004 - 2006 ).
2001 Second Runner-Up Jenny Chang (張聖伶) was the singer of the song "Lights Out", which won the Best Arrangement Award at the 11th Annual Canadian Chinese Songwriter's Quest (第十屆加拿大中文歌曲創作大賽).
2002 Winner Rita Leung (梁璟裕) has signed with EMI Music Taiwan recently and is in preparation to release her début album.
2002 First Runner-Up Kitty Bao (鮑芳) is currently a host for Fairchild TV's mandarin channel, Talentvision.
2002 Finalist Sandy Cheung (張梓欣) currently hosts What's On on Fairchild TV.
2003 Finalist Eunice Ho (何詠雯) originally entered Fairchild TV as a host for What's On but later became a Promotion Executive for the station as well until March 2006. She is currently a presenter for Hong Kong TVB's new entertainment news channel.
2004 First Runner-Up Min Zhang (張敏) entered the 10th Annual Canadian Chinese Songwriter's Quest (第十屆加拿大中文歌曲創作大賽) organized by Fairchild Radio and won with the song "未完之旅程" ("Unfinished Journey"), which she co-wrote and sang as a duet with her friend Susan Chen.
2004 Finalist Ming Fai ( Michael ) Lee (李明輝) currently hosts What's On on Fairchild TV.
2005 Finalists Jessica Cheung (張葆頤) and Dickson Chu (朱健榮) are currently hosts for Fairchild TV.

[edit] Vancouver success in NTSA International

Here is the list of Vancouver representatives who have won awards in the NTSA International Finals.

Jacky Chu 祝釩剛: NTSA International 1998 First Runner-Up
Jade Kwan 關惠文 ( 關心妍 ): NTSA International 1999 Best Potential Newcomer Award 最具潛質新人獎
Lorretta Chow 周美欣: NTSA International 2005 Trendy Image Award 時尚形象大獎

[edit] Trivia

Siblings who competed in the Finals in different years:-
- James Chu 祝鏘鎛 (1995 Best Stage Performance) and Jacky Chu 祝釩剛 (1998 Winner)
- Lorretta Chow 周美欣 (2005 Winner) and Jessica Chow 周美蘭 (2006 Finalist)
Multiple year contestants (only those contestants who were in the semi-finals and above more than once are listed):-
- Kitty Chan 陳宣霖 (1995 Finalist, 2000 Audience Popularity Award)
- Alex Chen 陳維屏 (1998 Audience Popularity Award, 1999 Second Runner-Up)
- Alan Ho 何應麟 (1997 Finalist, 1999 Finalist)
- Alex Lee 李崗霖 (2000 Finalist, 2001 Semi-Finalist)
- Rebecca Yang 楊詠薇 (2000 Semi-Finalist, 2001 First Runner-Up)
- Warren Lo 盧韋綸 (2002 Semi-Finalist, 2003 Winner)
- Jennifer Chao 趙玨 (2005 Semi-Finalist, 2006 Best Potential Newcomer Award)

Finalist who entered the contest the most times:
- Scott Wu 吳瑋倫, he auditioned for five years straight (1998-2002) without success before he became a finalist in 2003
Youngest NTSA Vancouver Winner:-
- Cindy Cheung 張瑋恩 (2001)
- Warren Lo 盧韋綸 (2003)
- Lorretta Chow 周美欣 (2005)

All three were 17 when they won. But, it was Lorretta's 17th birthday the day of the finals, so technically, Lorretta is the youngest NTSA Vancouver winner.

Oldest NTSA Vancouver Winner:-
- John Lam 林子康 (2006); Age: 27.
Finalists competing in NTSA Vancouver who are actually based in another city:-
- James Ho 何建邦 (2001 - Victoria, BC)
- Seena Zhang 章穎 (2006 - Regina, SK)
In 2004, all of the songs the finalists sang were chosen by Fairchild TV. That was the only year this was the case. All other years had contestants choosing at least one ( if not more ) of the songs they were singing.
1999 Vancouver Winner Chantel Wang 王亞文 became the only NTSA Vancouver winner who did not place in the top 3 in the NTSA North American/Canadian Finals. Instead, first runner-up Jade Kwan 關惠文 won the NTSA Canadian Finals. This is also the only time a Vancouver first runner-up placed higher than the Vancouver winner at the North American/Canadian finals.
Because Vancouver were to hold the NTSA Vancouver Finals and the NTSA North American Finals in 1994, and the Canadian Finals in 1997 and 1999, the Vancouver Finals those years were less elaborate. The venues were smaller, the program was simpler and there were no special guests. These things were saved for the grand North American/Canadian Finals.
2002 Winner Rita Leung 梁璟裕 was the 2nd Runner-Up at the Sunshine Girl Pageant 2001 held by Fairchild Radio.
2006 Winner John Lam 林子康 was the singer of two winning songs at the Canadian Chinese Songwriter's Quest (加拿大中文歌曲創作大賽) organized by Fairchild Radio: "迷夢" (6th Annual 2001 Winner), "難以拒絕" (9th Annual 2004 Winner).