USTAR 2016

From left: Sim, Kong, Yang, Cheah, and Department of Student Affairs Head Loh Nyuk Long at the USTAR 2016 opening ceremony

Chemical Engineering student Chong Kar Hin was crowned champion at USTAR 2016 Grand Finale with his rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I look to You” at UTAR Sungai Long Campus on 20 February 2016.

The judges of the competition were Top Million Star 2015 champion Daniel Cheah, musician Shaine Yang, and vocal trainer John Kong. The event commenced with a welcoming speech by the chairperson of USTAR 2016 organising committee and UTAR Music Club Sim Wei Ting. According to her, this is the first USTAR singing competition which was conducted using blind auditions and a live band. She said, “This annual singing competition aims to encourage UTAR students to showcase their talent on stage and to promote our UTAR Music Club to the students.”

Sim delivering her welcoming speech

Prior to the Grand Finale, two rounds of auditions were held on 21 and 22 January 2016 respectively. As a result, 20 out of 160 participants were selected for the semi-finals held on 29 January 2016 which saw some 270 members of the public vote for their favourite Top 10 singers.

The winners of USTAR 2016 are as follow:

Champion: Chong Kar Hin
1st runner-up: Valerie Wee
2rd runner-up: Chew Boon Kit
UTARian’s Star Choice Award: Melvin Tan

The Grand Finale of USTAR Singing Competition 2016 was sponsored by Magnum Care, Zalora, Lock Down KL, Gelly Wee Make Up Studio, Oiishi Onigiri, Neway Karaoke, Snow House Café, and Sheng Yi Bearing.