Singing contests offer a rare chance for those living outside of Yangon to show off their talents and perhaps make it big.

“NEXT one!” yells the judge and a girl stands up and walks to the edge of the stage, helped by someone who appears to be a relative. When she turns to face the judges, we can see that her eyes are not quite right; her eyelashes are fluttering a million miles an hour.

“Would you let her wear her glasses?” the man asks the judges, who nod in assent. The girl introduces herself: “I’m Nan Nay Lei Hein.”

She breaks out into a song called Lun Kyin Hngat (a type of mythical bird) and everyone gathered in the audition room – aware that the performance is being recorded – tries not to make a sound.

Her voice is special. The judges, as if in disbelief, ask her to sing another song, in a different style. She chooses Amaint (Command) and acquits herself well.

“We are proud to tell you that you are selected,” the judges announce, prompting everyone in the room to break out into applause.

We are at the third audition of the Super Singing Contest, held from June 20 to 22 at Royal Kaytumadi Hotel in Taungoo, Bago divison. From the 546 participants, the three judges – singer Phoe Kar, Sone Thin Par and composer Nyi Nyi Thwin – select 20 singers, including Nan Nay Lei Hein, to perform at the final of the competition in Yangon.

“I have suffered from really bad vision since I was born,” 18-year-old Nan Nay Lei Hein says after her performance. As she describes how happy she is to be among those selected, she breaks down in tears.

“I sing with my brothers’ band at weddings, donation ceremonies and birthday parties so I’m familiar being on stage, performing in front of an audience. But this time, I can’t control my feelings and I was excited as if it was my last chance. And I was also afraid of the judges being really critical,” she said, wiping tears from her face.

She said the competition was a rare opportunity for those who live outside Yangon and Mandalay to display their talents.

“It’s impossible to get success if you aren’t in Yangon. It’s even more difficult for the people like me with a disability. So this audition is very important to us – we have to grab this chance,” she said.

Nan Nay Lei Hein says she is hopeful she can perform well at the finals in Yangon.

“I just want to perform to my best and show people what I can do,” she adds.
Auditions have so far been held in Bago and Mawlamyine. Judges travelled to Kayin State capital Hpa’an over the weekend to asses the local talent and more auditions are scheduled to be held around the country.

The auditions are broadcast every Wednesday at 5:30pm on the MRTV-4 program “Super Singing Contest”.

The performances of the finalists will be release as VCDs and the winner will receive K5 million, while the second and third place getters in Yangon will take home K3 million and K2 million respectively.