| Benny Yau | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese name | 邱穟恆 | |||||
| Pinyin | Qiū Suìhéng (Mandarin) | |||||
| Jyutping | Jau1 Seoi6hang4 (Cantonese) | |||||
| Birth name | Benny Shui Hang Yau | |||||
| Ancestry | Chaozhou, China | |||||
| Origin | Vancouver, Canada | |||||
| Born | May 8, 1980 Hong Kong |
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| Occupation | Television presenter, Singer | |||||
| Voice type(s) | Tenor | |||||
| Years active | 1999–present | |||||
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Benny Yau (Traditional Chinese: 邱穟恆), born May 8, 1980
in Hong Kong); immigrated to Vancouver, Canada in 1988; is a
Canadian actor and television
presenter formerly affiliated with Fairchild TV.
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Yau 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.
Yau 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, Yau 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, Yau fell off the radar until the next year.
Determined for a comeback, Yau 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. Yau sang the songs Palm (掌心) by No Name Brand (無印良品) and Con Te Partirò by Andrea Bocelli. With his wide vocal abilities and a surprisingly entertaining dance routine during the Top 3 Round of the competition, Yau won the title of First Runner-Up.
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 Yau 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, Yau and Tsang were both reinstated in hosting "What's On" starting September, 2001.
In the summer of 2002, Yau 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 Yau 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, Yau 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 Yau leaving the show including ones which stated he was fired from the station.
Once again, Yau 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, Yau was paired with Bella Chen (the eventual the second runner-up) and sang the duet "Wish (許願)". When Yau 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.
As newcomers come onto the scene via the New Talent Singing Awards each year, Yau has made the transition from singer to Master of Ceremonies at many of Fairchild Television's live events. Although he still sings on occasion, viewers now recognize Benny more as a television presenter than being a singer. As of 2007, Yau has also been part of the judging panel at the auditions and semi-finals of the New Talent Singing Awards Vancouver Audition, coming full circle from contestant to judge of the same contest.
On December 30, 2009, Yau announced on his Twitter account that his profile from Fairchild TV has been removed without his knowledge and that he is assumed to be not affiliated with the television station anymore. [1] He later messaged saying he will return to the business "one day". [2]
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