The Young Ones

From TODAY, Plus, Music 

Thursday November 27, 2008

 

Budding Talent

The International Kids Performing Festival highlights a season for children

 

CHRISTOPHER TOH

christophertoh@mediacorp.com.sg

 

 

Her name is Julia, she’s 12 years old, she’s from Singapore, and she knocked our socks off!

- Oprah Winfrey on young songbird Julia Abueva, who’s since turned 13

 

 

QUESTION: What do Oprah Winfrey and Singapore have in common?

Answer: Julia Abueva.

 

She’s the singer from Singapore who impressed the popular talk show host with her video performance so much that Winfrey decided to feature her on her show for the episode, Oprah’s Search for the World’s Smartest and Most Talented Kids, which aired in the United States last Monday.

 

Winfrey’s introduction left no doubt that she was suitably wowed: “Her name is Julia, she’s 12 years old, she’s from Singapore, and she knocked our socks off, so listen to her!”

 

Said Julia of the episode: “It was really exciting. We heard about the show, and my dad uploaded some videos on the Oprah website. I really didn’t expect anything, so it was overwhelming.”

 

ALL-SINGING, ALL-DANCING

But don’t worry if you didn’t catch that episode, you can still watch the Singaporean wunderkind, who turned 13 this week, when she performs her first solo concert at the Great Eastern International Kids Performing Festival (IKPF), which runs from Dec 7 to 10. Julia’s concert is on Dec 9, with two shows — at 3pm and 8pm — at the Theatre Studio.

 

The IKPF is the first such performance festival for children, and showcases budding talent from the world over. Other than Julia, other headliners include Singapore’s own JazzKids and The School of Rock from the US. Other fringe activities include dance showcases featuring the likes of Bollywood Beats (modern Indian hip-hop) and L’Academe (ballet) as well as music showcases featuring acts like the De La Salle Primary School Choir, guitarist Kevin Loh and singers like Catherine Loria.

 

“It’s my very first solo concert,” said Julia. “I’ll be singing a lot of pop songs, Broadway medley and a few ballads. And I’m also going to be playing the piano. There’s also going be a lot of hip-hop and dancing.

 

“I think that not just teens but everyone will enjoy it!”

 

According to Julia’s mum Redge Abueva, Julia’s loved singing ever since she watched Annie when she was one. “Since then, she’s wanted to be on Broadway or West End,” she said. “That’s her dream. As parents we owe it to our kids to allow them to pursue what they love.”

 

And Redge is working to get Julia into either the Julliard School in New York, the renowned performing arts conservatory, or Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

 

“I know it’s a big dream and not many people from Asia actually make it on Broadway. There’s a certain security in knowing that she knows what she wants to do, but you can’t help but feel a little bit worried — how many people make it to Julliard? I told her, you have to work hard at what you love doing and then we take a chance.”

 

KIDS WANNA ROCK

But this being the school holidays, you don’t have to look that far to get your child started on the path to stardom.

 

All you have to do is head on down to Popstars City at Robertson Walk this Saturday. That’s where the last round of auditions are being held for the Singapore Performing Arts Junior Championships, which will run concurrently with the IKPF. The winner will go on to take part in an international competition next year.

 

Or who knows, you could, like Elfieqa, 14, be spotted and asked to join Kids Performing, the performing arts arm of Precious Entertainment, run by singer Kuo Po. According to Elfieqa’s mum, Rosni Yusof, mere months after Elfieqa joined, she was selected to join JazzKids at the World Championship of Performing Arts, where they picked up four gold medals in the group age 13 to 15 category.

 

For Rosni, enrolling her in Kids Performing was a no-brainer. “Why waste her talent?” asked Rosni. “I’d rather she’d do this than hang out doing nothing.

 

“I hope that one day Elfieqa will be a big star!” she added, laughing.

 

MAKING MUSIC

If you figure your child to be another Vanessa Mae or young prodigy pianist Abigail Sin, but don’t know if they’ll take to musical instruments like a duck takes to water, there’s the popular Baby Proms organised by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) at the stately Victoria Concert Hall. Despite its name, these concerts are not actually meant for babies, but children aged two to six.

 

Led by conductor Peter Moore, the SSO performs popular light classical pieces as well as familiar classical themes from the movies or TV. Moore also engages the children with games, and also gets young children up onstage to conduct the orchestra, said Koh Mui Leng, the SSO’s marketing communications executive.

 

The key idea, she said was to “get (the children) started in classical music”. The SSO has another series called Concerts for Children: A Clown’s Guide to the Orchestra, which features a “clown-ductor”, Melvin Tix. This show, said Koh, is targeted at those aged five to 12, and is “more technical” than Baby Proms.

 

Baby Proms is into its seventh year, and each year tickets sell out faster than you can say, “I delight in all manifestations of the Euterpean muse”. This year’s shows (Dec 5 and 6) were sold out by September, even though they added an extra show “Every year we’ve been adding shows. The response has been overwhelming,” said Koh. “Word spreads really fast.”

 

A reason could be the venue’s size: The Victoria Concert Hall can only accommodate 882 people. But Koh said that holding these concerts at other venues would be unfeasible. “There are guidelines to follow, and a lot of the activities cannot be carried out,” she said. “In our own hall, we are free to carry out any activities we like. We just want to engage the children in classical music and have a fun time.”

 

MODEL BEHAVIOUR

But say your kid prefers strutting in front of a camera, then head over to Fly Academy for their MAD (Modelling and Drama) Class in Dec. It’s an acting-cum-modelling course for kids aged six to 12, and teaches self-confidence in front of a crowd and the camera. Fly originally launched the classes in 2005, but stopped it for two years, before bringing it back again in June this year.

 

“At the time we didn’t have enough support, so we had to stop it,” said Fly Academy spokesperson Grace Chua. “But we received a lot of inquiries about it, so we decided to bring it back.”

 

The five-session course starting Dec 2 will focus on storytelling, poise and vocal expression, as well as other skills that child actors or models might need. And unlike other similar courses, each MAD Class is usually helmed by two of Fly’s own artistes, such as local comedian Irene Ang and Amy Cheng.

 

This December’s course will be presented by popular storyteller Julie Wee and Rosley Kassim, a professional dancer-turned-choreographer who has worked at prestigious events like Miss Universe (Singapore) and the President’s Star Charity.

 

Will your child be another Julia? Or even a music prodigy? Well, only time will tell. But to paraphrase a wise sage, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. At least now you know where to go.

 

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The IKPF takes place from Dec 7 to 10 at the Esplanade’s various venues. Visit www.ikpf.net for more details. FLY Academy Kid’s December M.A.D (Modelling & Drama) Class will be conducted from Dec 2 to 18. For more enquiries or registration, email academy@fly.com.sg or call Grace at 6224 3188.