I went to see a concert by Stars Academy graduates, and in our party was someone who teaches in the music department of Baptist University.
Having followed the competition, my lecturer friend said she really loved to see the 15 young trainees performing on stage.
When the show was over, I asked her to rate the performers. She observed that champion Gigi Yim Ming-hay was indeed a cut above her peers, sailing confidently through both the low notes and the high ones.
The public focus of the show was generally on the girls, who took the top three spots. But my friend also paid attention to their male counterparts
She noted that Rock Ho Chun-lok, who finished fifth in the competition, has a nice voice. So does fourth-placed Archie Sin Ching-fung, who has outstanding looks too. Other young male artistes, meanwhile, displayed superior stage presence.
My friend said those who take part in singing competitions have the benefit of being coached by masters. But what really matters is whether they will heed advice and work on their inadequacies. That, she said, is often the factor that determines how far one can go.
Over the years, Television Broadcasts' talent shows have nurtured many mega stars.
Decades ago we had Sheng Bao Zhi Ye, or Sharp Night, which produced great singers like Francis Yip Lai-yee.
Then Anita Mui Yim-fong, who had the instant air of a champion, came along in New Talent Singing Awards.
Some stars from singing contests and the Miss Hong Kong Pageant are born winners. Others showed great potential at the start but soon faded. Yet others may have been seen as dark horses or wild cards but shone brightly in the end.
Years ago, TVB meticulously groomed five young men dubbed "The Five Tigers." Among them, the most successful are Andy Lau Tak-wah and Tony Leung Chiu-wai.
Lau was in the lead right from the start but he's never arrogant. One time, after an anniversary show at TVB, someone asked if he really needed to try so hard. Lau laughed and said he had to try his best to express his gratitude to the broadcaster.
To some, such a remark might smack of shoe-shining, but it did reflect that Lau knew how to appreciate opportunities offered to him.
TVB has been likened to Shaolin Temple, where many young people, while talented, must go through baptisms of fire in skills, character and emotional quotient to mature as artistes.
But those who manage to survive the Alley of the Wooden Men - the legendary final test for Shaolin kung fu trainees - are all set to aim for stardom.
Siu Sai-wo is publisher of Sing Tao Daily
