Kota Kinabalu: Two Sabah schoolchildren won Special Gold Awards at the “Tian Lai Xin Sheng 2026” Global Auditions in Beijing, China, and emerged among the world’s top young singers.
The two, 11-year-old Rainie Wong Jing Ru from Kota Kinabalu and 10-year-old Chloe Chong Zi Han from Keningau, were named among the “Global Top 100 Young Singers” at the international competition held at Beijing Radio & Television Station (BRTV).
Rainie, a pupil of Shan Tao Primary School, scored 99.46, while Chloe, a pupil of Yuk Kong Chinese Primary School, scored 98.76. Both received the Special Gold Award, the highest honour at the event.
Rainie also joined the five-day, four-night “Tian Lai Xin Sheng 2026 Vocal Training Camp” and was selected to perform with young singers from China for the Tian Lai Xin Sheng television programme.
During the camp, she said she was initially worried about communicating with other participants because she was not fluent in Mandarin. Still, she found that music helped her connect with the other young singers.
“The stage in China was huge, and the lighting was beautiful. I hope to have another opportunity to sing overseas. It was such an exciting experience,” she said.
During the television recording, Rainie performed “My Motherland” with two young singers from China. Her performance is scheduled to be broadcast by Beijing Radio & Television Station in October.
For Chloe, the competition marked her first overseas performance after the auditions.
The Keningau youngster said she was nervous backstage among young singers from different countries, but overcame her nerves with support from vocal coach Susheena Yap and her mother.
“I am very happy with my result and hope I will have another opportunity to perform on an international stage and sing for more people,” she said.
Chloe performed “Tian Liang Le” and earned a score of 98.76.
VOCE Vocal Lab Director Zev Leong and deputy director and vocal coach Susheena Yap trained both Rainie and Chloe.
Susheena said the two children had to cope with Beijing’s summer weather, long backstage waiting periods, and the pressure of competing internationally despite their young age during the event.
“Both of them gave everything they had on stage and presented their very best. As their vocal coach, I am extremely proud of them,” she said.
The global auditions involved several rounds of selection in 100 cities across China and 12 countries overseas, with more than 700 young singers from over 10 countries and regions competing in Beijing.
Sabah-born vocal educator JinV Wong, from Sandakan, was the only Malaysian invited to serve as an expert judge at the global auditions.
He said the strong performance by Malaysian contestants showed that the country’s young singers could compete confidently on the international stage.
“Our young singers grow up in a rich multilingual environment. Whether performing songs in Mandarin or English, they can compete confidently with singers from other countries and regions,” he said.
JinV Wong also led a team of vocal coaches, including Zev Leong and Susheena Yap from Sabah, at the vocal training camp, where they provided coaching and joined programme recording.
