Soprano star shines
EIGHTEEN-year-old Wong Wai-sum's soprano singing ended on a bright note recently when she emerged champion in the vocal solo soprano competition at the 45th Hongkong Schools Music Festival.
The Ho Man Tin Government Secondary School student beat 12 other girls in the under-19 category and impressed the judges with her expressive and powerful vocals.
Wai-sum, a Form 7 student, was modest about her win. ''My intonation is still not accurate,'' she said.
She said her win was unexpected but she could not hide her pleasure as she smiled for the cameras.
Wai-sum is a familiar voice in competitions. She started singing with the Hongkong Children's Choir when she was eight years old. Last year, she won the under-15 category at the festival.
This year, classmate Chau Yuet-yin accompanied Wai-sum on the piano. ''We trained for the competition for about one month,'' said Yuet-yin.
Judge Huang Feili, a music professor at the Beijing Central Conservatory of Music, said he was pleased with the overall performances of the participants.
''But their intonation could be better,'' he added. Mr Huang noted however that, as amateurs, the students had no formal training.
''There are aspects which could be improved, such as musical expression and phrasing.'' Meanwhile, Wai-sum plans to carry on singing after she enters university. Third-prize winner Temmy Chan of St Mary Canossa College said she had no plans yet.
''I am still recovering from the excitement of my achievement,'' smiled the 17-year-old.
The competition was held at the St Andrew's Church Hall in Tsim Sha Tsui. Those who were placed after Wong Wai-sum were: Yeung Suet-fan and Chan Kwok-wing who tied for second and Lam Chun-chun and Temmy Chan who tied for third.
Class 109 - Piano Solo: Elementary 1. Lau Him-chi (88); 2. Tsui Ka-man (85); 3. Tsang Sze-man (82) Class 110 - Piano Solo: Elementary 1. Ho Cheng (85); 2. Tsai Lee-lee (84), Chan Hiu-nam (84) and Tse Hve-wai (84); 3. Cheung Lo-ming (83) and Ng Wai-ket (83) Class 111 - Piano Solo: Elementary 1. Wong Wing-see (88); 2. Yip Yue-man (87); 3. Siu Kin-pong (86) Class 112 - Piano Solo: Junior 1. Lai Yu-ching (89); 2. Kwan Lok-man (88); 3. Tong Pik-chi (86) and Li Yiu-shan (86) Class 115 - Piano Solo: Junior 1. Lee ching-man (90); 2. Cheung Wing-yan (88) Class 54 - Female Voice - Under-15 1. Cheung Suet-ying (93); 2. Christina Cheuk (92) and Fung Kwok-ching (92); 3. Lee Tsz-kan (91) and Low Chi-ying (91) Class 109 - Piano Solo: Elementary 1. Lau Nim-chi (88); 2. Tsui Ka-man (85); 3. Tsang Sze-man (82) Class 10 - Secondary School Choir: Singing in Chinese Senior - Girls 1. Good Hope School (95); 2. Heep Yunn School (93) and Pooi To Middle School (93); 3. St Stephen's Girls' College (90) Class 100 - Piano Solo: Preparatory 1. Wong Yuk-ming; 2. Yuen Wun-kiu; 3. Hung Pui-yan and Wong Ka-yan Class 151 - Junior Exhibitioner Award Finalists: Denise Ng, Adrea Fan and Esther Wong Class 828 - Sandra Wagstaff Scholarship for String Concerto Finalists: Anna Kwan (cello), Leung Lok (violin) and Alexander Lee (cello) Class 110 - Piano Solo: Elementary 1. Smith Doris (88); 2. Wong Wing-see (87); 3. Hui Pik-yan (86) Class 34 - Junior Choral: Singing in Chinese Junior 5 and 6 1. CUHK FAA Thomas Cheung School AM; 2. Leung Sing Tak Primary School and PLK Siu Hon Sum Primary School AM; 3. Sha Tin Government Primary AM School and Wai Chow Public School Sheung Shui AM Class 35 - Junior Choral: Singing in Chinese Junior 3 and 4 1. Sha Tin Government Primary AM School; 2. Leung Sing Tak Primary School; 3. TWGHs Tam Shiu Primary School AM Class 90 - Anthems: Treble (Boys and Girls) Under-15 1. HKTA Tang Hin Memorial Secondary School Class 90 - Anthems: Treble Boys and Girls - Under-15 1. St Stephen's Girls' College; 2. True Light Girls' College; 3. Kowloon True Light Middle School and CCC Mong Man Wai College Class 321 - Recorder Band: Secondary 1. STFA Tam Pak Yu College (95); 2. Wa Ying College (92); 3. St Francis' Canossian College (89) Class 125 - Piano Solo: Senior 1. Lee Hak-king (87); 2. Philip Lo (86) and Tang Hiu-sze (86); 3 Leo Kan (85) and Lau Chiu-lo (85) Class 12B - Secondary School Choir: Singing in Chinese Junior - Under-15 (Treble) 1. Christ College; 2. Valtorta College; 3. Hongkong Taoist Association Yuen Yuen Institute No 2 Secondary School and Lock Tao Secondary School Class 111 - Piano Solo: Elementary 1. Tsui Hai-man (86); 2. Au Yee-fu (85); 3. Chan Hok-sum (84) and Cheung Wing-yan (84) Class 8 - Mixed Voice Choir: Singing in Foreign Language Intermediate - SAB - Under-17 1. Wa Ying College (84); 2. Po Leung Kuk CFA No 1 College (83); 3. Shu Kei Wan Government Secondary School (82) Class 2 - Secondary School Choir: Singing in Foreign Language Intermediate - Under-17 Girls 1. Good Hope School (94); 2. Heep Yunn School (90); 3. St Stephen's Girls' College (88) Class 116 - Piano Solo: Higher 1. Louise Yeung (92); 2. Esther Yuen (91) and Jacqueline Leung (91); 3. Winnie Lai (90) and Oriana Fu (90)
