The 12th CCTV Talent Karaoke Competition

Date: Australia- New Zealand preliminary round : 2nd April, 2006 + Australia- New Zealand semi-final round : 12th April, 2006 + Australian/ New Zealand final contestants visit to China: 23rd– 27th April, 2006 + Australia- New Zealand finals round 3rd June, 2006

Venue: Australia- New Zealand preliminary round: Tower Building, University of Technology Sydney + Australia- New Zealand semi-final round : Keith Bruuows theatre, University of NSW + Australian New Zealand final contestants visit to China: Beijing + Australia- New Zealand finals round: Suite H, 10-16 South St, Rydalmere, NSW

Sponsors: Central Chinese Television (CCTV) Song Qingling Foundation in China

Organized by: Australian Chinese Performing Artists’ Association        

Supported by: Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Sydney

Video Trailler

Reviews: Australia- New Zealand preliminary round: The competition took place in the University of Technology Sydney (Tower Building). From early morning, friends and family of the contestants came to give all the competitors much needed support. Competitors included youth from all over Sydney’s most prestige schools and universities. Competitor’s abilities ranging from newly discovered youth, to semi-professional and well known faces throughout the Chinese community. Whilst preparing themselves for a large range of well structured activities, backstage area was immersed by a large cloud of mixed emotions, from nervous and anxious faces, to professional last minute warm-ups. The competition started promptly a 10 am; the first competitor was a girl from University of Sydney. As her performance started, the noisy atmosphere cooled to silence as everyone started to enjoy the very first performance in the morning. Her song lasted for around five minutes. Right after her performance was over, as she stepped out, a wave of applause from everyone in the backstage stopped her, her only comment was if only her performance had not been so early in the morning her preparations could have been better. Because of the large amount of contestants, the actual competition lasted for a whole day, and only managed to finish around 6 pm in the evening. A large amount of effort was put into it by judges and volunteers throughout the day.

The amount of work that was put into it was without questioning, in fact one of the main organizers ‘Chen Feng’ almost collapsed from exhaustion at the end. A quote from one of the judges on that day: “Although all of us are very tired, when we see these young people and their excellent performances, we feel extremely proud, and once again we believe that Chinese musical talent can also be found away from China”. * Report on the 16th May, 2006 The Australian Chinese Performing Arts Association hosted a welcoming event for all on the 16th of May 2006, which was held at Kam Fook restaurant, Chatswood. The entire night can be well summarized into a few words: good food, lots of fun and one crucial element, a good host. This, we believe was something that ACPAA wanted to show before the big event on the 3rd of next month, and supporting personnel and other events that will also be held. Every aspect of this big event has been fixed to professional levels, the floor experienced a flow of music from the competitors and the fascinating performance of the host on that night brought everyone to laughter. A clear change of the competitors could be view by the audience. They were no longer the young boys and girls as the time when this competition first started; they were now more experienced, and soon will become professional performers. Hours of practicing and rehearsing that have been put down by competitors are really starting to gain some good results.