Columbia Alumni Shoots to Stardom in China
Columbia International College graduate Jaki (Jiexi) Tan is now Top 5 of China's most popular music reality show.
- (1888PressRelease) August 27, 2010 - Columbia International College graduate Jaki (Jiexi) Tan has made it into the Top 5 of Super Boy, China's most popular music talent show. Tan got his ticket to the next round after one of the six finalists was eliminated on August 13, 2010.
Tan, who is likely to make it into the competition's final round on September 10, has fans in China and Hamilton, Ontario. Columbia staff and students who have been following the show let out loud cheers when Tan made it through. Inspired by his raging popularity, Mr. James Lawlis' music class performed Tan's song Take Girlfriend Home on Aug 23. Staff and students also sent a video message to Tan.
Music Teacher Now Super Boy Fan
While at Columbia, Tan was heavily involved in the school's music scene. Mr. Lawlis was Tan's music teacher when he was a fledgling member of the school band and he is very proud of Tan's achievements.
"I'm not surprised by Jaki's success, I'm actually delighted. He showed a great passion for music when he was a student at Columbia International College. I remember Jaki as a happy guy who was really serious about playing good music," said Mr. Lawlis during the filming of his message for the Super Boy contest, "He was always in the music room with his friends working on a future performance. I feel very proud when I watch Super Boy and see Jackie singing his heart out. "
A Natural Musician
Jaki Tan came to Columbia International College in 2005, at the age of 15. He soon learned to play the guitar and became an active student in Mr. Lawlis' Instrumental Music class. He composed folk songs and performed with students from around the world.
In 2007's CIC Idol Show, Jaki Tan performed Gift from the Time a song which soon became popular among students. The lyrics vividly described the sense of sadness one feels when graduation time nears. In one of the song's most beloved lines Tan sang "Time, I wish I knew why we have to say goodbye. Guys, I said I won't cry, but I'm not a superman."
From his humble beginnings in Columbia's musical band to the North American Karaoke Contest, Jaki Tan took a musical path that has now led him to the final showdown in the Chinese spin-off of American Idol.
Developing Talent and Promoting Academic Performance
Lily Zhang, Columbia's Assistant to the Principal, still has fresh memories of Tan's days at Columbia. She now watches video clips of Tan on the internet every week. Ms. Zhang believes that Columbia's multicultural environment influenced Tan's music, which fuses the sounds of folks songs from both East and West.
Ms. Zhang also points out that, Columbia's Total CareŽ approach to education unearths students' talents and nurture's their needs and dreams while promoting their academic performance. Tan is a case in point. Though actively involved in music, he graduated from Columbia as an Ontario scholar and was admitted to University of Toronto.
Ms. Zhang is a huge fan of Tan's music and she says his songs are a testament to the kind of growth international students' experience at Columbia. "Students like Jaki, come to Canada at a young age and learn how to make many important decisions by themselves," She said. "Adapting to new life and living style makes them mature, and I think Jaki's come a long way. I wish him all the best in the competition!"
###
space
space
Satisfied Users & 
Approved Press Releases
Print
Email
Report Spam