- Benny Yau
Infobox Chinese-language singer and actor
name = Benny Yau
caption =
chinesename = 邱穟恆
tradchinesename =
simpchinesename =
pinyinchinesename = Qiū Suìhéng
jyutpingchinesename = Jau1 Seoi6hang4
birthname = Benny Shui Hang Yau
ancestry =Chaozhou ,China
origin =Vancouver, Canada
birthdate = birth date and age|1980|5|8
birthplace =Hong Kong
deathdate =
deathplace =
restingplace =
restingplacecoordinates =
othername =
occupation =Television presenter ,Singer
genre =
instrument =
voicetype =Tenor
label =
yearsactive = 1999–present
currentmembers =
pastmembers =
associatedact =
spouse =
partner =
children =
parents =
influences =
influenced =
website = http://www.bennyyau.com/
hongkongfilmwards =
goldenbauhiniaawards =
hkfcsawards =
goldenhorseawards =
goldenroosterawards =
mtvasiaawards =
goldenmelodyawards =
ntsawards = Vancouver Audition 2000 First Runner-Up
awards =Benny Yau (Traditional Chinese: 邱穟恆), born
May 8 ,1980 inHong Kong ); immigrated toVancouver ,Canada in 1988; is a Canadian actor andtelevision presenter affiliated withFairchild TV .Biography
Musical Background
Benny is a graduate of
Eric Hamber Secondary School in 1998 with the distinction of Top Music Department Graduate. He later studied Classical Voice at Vancouver Community College under the instruction of Bruce Pullan.Almost a DJ
Benny entered a DJ competition in May 1999 for a Vancouver Chinese radio station CHMB AM 1320 (華僑之聲) and placed fourth. He then entered the station in hopes of becoming a successful radio DJ. He was set to host a weekly late night music program in September, 1999. However, within weeks of those plans being made, they were put on hold by the station indefinitely. Discouraged, Benny ended his contract with AM 1320 in November of the same year. Since it states that he cannot be active in any rival stations for the six months after his contract ends, Benny fell off the radar until the next year.
New Talent Singing Awards
Determined for a comeback, Benny entered the
New Talent Singing Awards Vancouver Audition 2000 (新秀歌唱大賽溫哥華選拔賽2000), organized by the rival station of AM 1320,Fairchild Television . He beat over 300 contestants to be in the finals, which was held on July 8, 2000 at the Plaza of Nations. Benny sang the songs "Palm (掌心)" by No Name Brand (無印良品) and "Con Te Partirò" byAndrea Bocelli . With his wide vocal abilities and a surprisingly entertaining dance routine during the Top 3 Round of the competition, Benny won the title of First Runner-Up.Television Start
Right after his appearance on New Talent,
Fairchild Television producers invited him to host their longest running program, "What's On (熒幕八爪娛)". He hosted the show starting August, 2000.In April 2001, Fairchild TV felt that Benny and one of his co-host (and fellow New Talent Singing Awards 2000 finalist), Leslie Tsang's hosting skills were sub-par. Therefore, the two were sent to host a new 8-episode program teaching the joys of fishing on the west coast as a last chance to prove their skills. The program was titled "Angling Unlimited (漁樂無窮)". The filming took place on-location at
Pender Harbour , British Columbia. It aired on Fairchild TV from July, 2001 to August, 2001 and became one of the most successful Fairchild programs garnering rave reviews and high ratings. With the viewer response it received, Benny and Leslie were both reinstated in hosting "What's On" starting September, 2001.Career Change
In the summer of 2002, Benny was hired by
Starbucks Coffee in Vancouver and eventually began working for the company full-time ( he was a Store Manager for the company until November 2006 ). As Benny wanted to focus more on his new-found career, and since there was a surplus of hosts for "What's On" with the addition of new co-hosts, Benny signed-off from the show after a two-year plus run in October, 2002 but remained a contract artist. At the time, there were numerous speculations regarding Benny leaving the show including ones which stated he was fired from the station.Once again, Benny dropped off the radar until July 2003, when he was invited as a special guest in New Talent Singing Awards Vancouver Audition 2003. In a round which paired off current contestants with former winners, Benny was paired with Bella Chen (who would become the second runner-up) and sang the duet "Wish (許願)". When Benny appeared on stage after a 10-month hiatus on-screen, audience members at The Centre For The Performing Arts greeted him with a roaring welcome.
From singer to MC
As newcomers come onto the scene via the New Talent Singing Awards each year, Benny has made the transition from
singer toMaster of Ceremonies at many of Fairchild Television's live events. Although he still sings on occasion, viewers now recognize Benny more as atelevision presenter than being a singer.elected TV Filmography
*Mr. Sing Searches For Stars Sing仔尋星 - Sing仔 ( 2006 )
*Angling Unlimited 漁樂無窮 - Host ( 2001 )
*What's On 熒幕八爪娛 - Host ( 2000 - 2002 )External links
*imdb name|id=1517097|name=Benny Yau
* [http://www.fairchildtv.com/host.php?n=eccbc87e4b5ce2fe28308fd9f2a7baf3 Benny Yau Official Artist Profile For Fairchild TV ( In Chinese )]
* [http://www.bennyyau.com Benny Yau Online]
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