It’s the stuff dreams are made of. Especially if you happen to be a talented young vocalist or dancer looking for a chance to show what you can do.
Four young people, aged 10 to 17, in Caledon are preparing right now take to the stage at the CNE’s Rising Star Talent Competition. They’ve auditioned and made the cut. Determination and hard work, in addition to their talent, has provided them this opportunity to sparkle when that spotlight shines down on them later this month.
Just Sayin’ Caledon interviewed these rising stars. Let us tell you a bit about them.
Serena Kuang
Serena Kuang moved to Southfields from Brampton about three years ago. The ten-year old is a student at Southfields Village Public School.
Serena was part of a choir at her former school, Ingleborough Public School, but in the last couple of years, due to Covid, she has been taking online vocal classes.
The talented young artist also plays piano and has participated in numerous festivals and competitions. She has won several awards including the 2021 Steinway Canada Young Artist Virtual Piano Competition Intermediate Gold Reward, runner-up in Intermediate Instrumental category (level-C) of 2021 ORMTA Greater Toronto Area Zone Competition, and 2 first place finishes (one level B, one level C) in the March 2022 Peel Music Festival. This year she was accepted to the Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists junior piano program.
Serena says she loves music and listens to it every day in her spare time. She says the moment she really knew she wanted to sing came three years ago when she performed How Far I’ll Go from the Disney movie Moana in a Rising Star competition organized by the Chinese Community.
She has participated and won awards for her vocals at several festivals and competitions since then.
In 2019 when modelling in the Toronto Kids Fashion Show Serena saw a poster about the CNE’s Rising Star Talent Competition. She auditioned that year and, while she did not get in, this year she auditioned again and succeeded.
Serena says she is looking forward to being able to sing and play piano on a “much bigger stage” as well as “getting to meet talented kids and being able to watch and learn from their performances.”
As for what the future holds Serena wants write and produce her own songs and continue to follow her music idols Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo.
“I have a passion to write songs to express my feelings but I need some time, I’m still learning.”
We wish Serena the best of luck! Go Serena!
See part one in this 4 part series : Bianca Yong
The post Caledon Rising Stars, Part 2 of 4 : Serena Kuang appeared first on Just Sayin' Caledon.