The Top Ten singers pose for pictures with judges (starting with the fifth from the right: Xing Zhengjun, Pan Yu, Phoebe Haines and Jiang Yang).  

Peking University, October 23, 2023: The highly anticipated Top Ten International Students Singing Competition was held at the Peking University Hall on the evening of Oct. 22, as part of the 20th anniversary edition of the Peking University International Culture Festival (ICF). The event aimed to foster cultural connections among students through the power of music, while providing a platform for global youth to engage in meaningful exchanges.
 

The Chinese and English hosts announce the start of the competition.

The competition featured two thrilling rounds. In the first round, 16 talented contestants competed for a spot in the final round, where the top ten singers were selected. In the second and final round, the competition intensified as contestants vied for the top three positions. 
 

The audience wave light sticks while watching the competition. 

The first contestant to grace the stage was Liang Meiting from France, who captivated the audience with her original song, "Colors of My Life," sharing her heartfelt experiences. Zhang Enzhun from ROK, amazed the crowd with a powerful rendition of "Titanium" and “Foam,” showcasing impeccable vocal technique and impressive high notes. 

Meanwhile, Andrew from the United States showcased his rap skills while maintaining an engaging interaction with the audience, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Gu Jiasheng from Malaysia took the stage and unleashed his heart through the song “Red Bean” and “Enough,” delivering each note with raw emotion that reached deep within the listeners' hearts. 

EXFP, a band consisting of a Japanese student and three Chinese students, wowed the audience with their creative and interactive performances of two different genres of songs, presenting their versatility and harmonization skills. 

Left: Liang Meiting plays acoustic guitar while singing her original song; right: Gu Jiasheng performs “Red Bean” in the first round.

 

PPG Group from Malaysia performs "A Million Dreams" from the hit musical "The Greatest Showman."

 

Aditya Kristanto from Indonesia sings while interacting with the crowd with a lively Indonesian song, “Benang Biru (Blue Thread).”

 

The band EXFP performs Bruno Mars' "Leave the Door Open," inviting the audience to groove along. 

 

Filipino student Liu Juyan performs a Filipino song "Dito Ka Lang (Stay Here)."

 

Clad in traditional Russian clothing, Anna Drozdova sings a Russian song, "A Night at Moscow Suburb."

After the first round of the contest, a lucky draw was held, giving out blind boxes to lucky members of the audience. The blind box encompassed a diverse array of items, such as hoodies and folders designed after PKUICF 2018, canvas bags from 2017, and more. Each item serves as a testament to the event's rich history over the past twenty years and embodies the collective journey towards a brighter future. 

Subsequently, the highly competitive second round produced the official ranking of the top ten singers, before the judges gave their verdict and comments. Pan Yu emphasized the importance of contestants' carefully selected songs that complemented their unique vocal characteristics, and encouraged them to focus on designing song arrangements and mastering emotional control. He also commended Gu Jiasheng for his exceptional emotional expression, highlighting it as a crucial attribute for any aspiring singer.

Another judge, Jiang Yang, described the competition as a feast for both the eyes and ears, praising the contestants for their impressive performances. However, he also pointed out that improvements could be made in the areas of song structure design and added that the journey and personal growth were much more important than the final outcome. Phoebe Haines expressed her admiration for the thoughtfully executed performances, noting the inspiring nature of the stage presentations.
 

One of the judges, Jiang Yang, performs“Lan Ting Xu.” 

As a fitting conclusion to the event, Jiang Yang graced the stage with a rendition of Jay Chou's "Lan Ting Xu (Lanting Script)," leaving the audience captivated and drawing the event to a remarkable close.

Zhang Enzhun with her first prize

The champion, South Korean singer Zhang Enzhun, expressed her surprise at the final results, saying that “it felt like a dream to her.” She added that singing was one of her favorite hobbies since young, and it was her friends that encouraged her to participate in this competition.
 
When asked about the challenges she encountered while preparing for the competition, Zhang recalled that there was a singer that chose the same song ("Foam") as she did in the final round, which made her rethink her choices. At the end, she decided to go on with her decision as this song perfectly encapsulated her high voice range and powerful vocals.
 

Champion Zhang Enzhun performs a powerful rendition of GEM’s “Foam” in the final round.

Andrew with his second prize.

Andrew, the rapper from the United States who acquired second place, shared that he was very honored to be performing onstage, adding that he was pleasantly surprised by all the talented contestants and was also very grateful to the judges. He also demonstrated great drive and ambition as he vowed to try harder next time for the first place.

Andrew performs a Korean rap song, “Bong Bong,” in the final round.

The fast-paced songs chosen by Andrew not only allowed his superb rapping skills to shine, they also allowed everybody to enjoy themselves, which was what he wanted to achieve with his performance. 

The audience also thoroughly enjoyed the competition. American student Emily Cheng from PKU’s Yenching Academy, who came in support of her friend Kathy Min, expressed that Kathy is a really great singer and is also good at expressing her emotions. She thought it was really beautiful to see all the international students at PKU standing on stage sharing their own culture with amazing voices. 

(From right to left) Emily Cheng, Kathy Min and their friend.

Thai singer Niu Xinxin’s parents came all the way from Thailand to support their daughter. Her mother shared that she was very happy to hear Niu singing on the stage today and was very proud of her. She really enjoyed the way her daughter looked confident and relaxed on stage. Niu’s mother believed that the Top Ten International Students Singing Competition provided a stage for students to showcase their gifts, while also encouraging students to participate in extracurricular activities in addition to studying.

Niu Xinxin (middle), celebrates her achievement with her parents. 

The Peking University International Culture Festival 2023's Top Ten International Students Singing Competition not only celebrated the diverse talents of international students but also exemplified the power of music to bridge cultural boundaries and foster global understanding. The event served as a testament to Peking University's commitment to providing a platform for young talents to shine and connect with the world. 

Written and interviewed by: Chai Seng Kit, Wang Yu Hsuan
Edited by: Wang Jia En
Photos by: Teo Si Min