Source: China News Network
Beijing, August 27 (China News Network) Title: Dai Zhong, a contestant in the "Water Cube Cup" Chinese Song Contest: He is more than a year old and sings Chinese songs in Melbourne
Author Monrui
In the final of the 2021 "Culture China Water Cube Cup" Chinese Song Contest that ended recently, Dai Zhong, a player from Melbourne, Australia, scored a good score of 9.613 points with a passionate song "Long Live the Motherland". It is worth noting that the contestant, who was praised by the judges for having a "metallic tone", is 72 years old, the oldest of the contestants shortlisted for the semi-finals.
From his initial hobby to his full devotion to "music will accompany me for life", Dai Zhong's road to pursuing his dreams has been long and steady. Music accompanied him all the way from his hometown of Shanghai to Melbourne on the other side of the ocean, enriching his retirement life and soothing his soul far away from his homeland.
By chance, I competed
Dai Zhong's love for singing can be seen at a glance: he is on the big screen of the "Water Cube Cup" final scene, wearing a board suit, wearing a tie, and his expression is focused. In front of him, there are professional radio equipment, and behind him is a specially arranged background for the competition, and all the details show the importance he attaches to this competition.
Melbourne, Australia, Dai Zhong (second from right) and local overseas Chinese friends courtesy of the interviewee
Due to the time difference, when Dai Zhong appeared, it was about 10 p.m. local time, but he still began to sing with full spirits, and when he got to the emotional place, his body movements also became larger. If it is not introduced by the host, it is difficult to see that this is an old man who is more than an old man. Bao Hurcha, a judge and famous musician, said that his singing was full of confidence and "I didn't expect to be so old at all."
Speaking of this competition, Dai Zhong said that thanks to his timely opportunity to register decisively. At an event of the local Chinese Federation, he stumbled upon the news that the "Water Cube Cup" was about to start, and it was close to the deadline for registration. Although he is older, he still hopes to "have the opportunity to compete with young people on such a big stage."
Dai Zhong in life courtesy of the interviewee
After going abroad, I love to sing Chinese songs
Dai Zhong liked to sing when he was in school, and often used his spare time to participate in performances after work, but it was not until his retirement that he began to receive professional bel canto vocal training. Initially, because his Shanghai accent was difficult to correct in a short period of time, the teacher advised him to practice Italian songs, and he was recognized in some competitions with several famous Italian songs.
After arriving in Melbourne, Australia in 2018, Dai Zhong was unfamiliar, "unable to find a channel to communicate with others, and felt very lonely." With the help of his family, he joined the community "Yangtze River Choir" formed by overseas Chinese people. Here, more often than not, he sings Chinese songs with everyone. In order to correct his Mandarin pronunciation, he put a lot of effort into practicing his Chinese repertoire, volunteering to perform for the residents of the community and showcasing Chinese culture.
"Practicing singing Chinese songs with everyone improved our singing skills and expressed our homesickness." Dai Zhong said that overseas Chinese and chinese people share happiness in this way, and they can also feel the cultural atmosphere of the motherland in a foreign country.
With his singing expertise, Dai Zhong walked all the way from the Yangtze River Choir to the Melbourne Chinese Song and Dance Troupe and the Melbourne Singing Association. In just a few years, he has made many friends in Melbourne through singing, "I am proud to let more locals hear our Chinese songs".
In the semi-final of the "Water Cube Cup", Dai Zhong hung a Chinese knot on the background wall. He said that after arriving abroad, he felt more and more that the strength of the motherland had brought to overseas Chinese and ethnic Chinese, and he could not return to his homeland for the time being due to the epidemic, and could only express his thoughts about the motherland in this way.
Music is a bridge, communicating at home and abroad
Dai Zhong's community is inhabited by residents from all over the world, most of whom maintain their original festival habits. Today, whenever the community holds a festival celebration, Dai Zhong, as the artistic director of the Yangtze River Choir, always leads the members to participate in it, telling the story of China with a song Chinese song.
Dai Zhong performed the scene Courtesy of the interviewee
Whenever the Chinese national traditional festivals are celebrated, the Yangtze River Choir also invites other cultural backgrounds in the community to perform. Through musical exchanges, different cultures deepen their understanding of each other. In this way, overseas Chinese and ethnic Chinese people are more comfortable in local life.
During a performance event, Dai Zhong sang a famous Italian song "My Sun". A female listener from Italy was touched by the scene and shed tears of excitement. Dai Zhong said that this incident touched him a lot, "Music has no borders, it is just a bridge, we spread Chinese culture through music, and understand each other with the world." ”
Talking about the future, Dai Zhong said that he still has to exert his residual heat to the extreme in his hobby, will continue to participate in various singing activities, and continue to climb to the peak of his dreams. (End)