Tan Jing

Tan Jing (simplified Chinese: 谭晶; traditional Chinese: 譚晶; pinyin: Tán Jīng) (born September 11, 1977)^[1] is a solo singer in the Song and Dance Ensemble of the People’s Liberation Army and a first class national actress. Her music blends bel canto, Chinese national music (Guoyue), and popular singing styles. She has been dubbed “The Voice of Harmony” for her efforts to spread Chinese music, culture, and goodwill through her professional and philanthropic contributions.^[2]

She has earned a Master’s of Popular Music Studies, is an elected member of the 10th National People’s Congress, currently serves as the Deputy Director of China’s Pop Music Association and has been voted one of China’s Top Ten Outstanding Youths.^[3]

Tan has also starred in original national operas Ode to Mulan and The White Haired Girl, musicals Crazy Snow, Jasmine, and In That Distant Place, and other plays. Tan was a torchbearer for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and her song, Sky, was used to accompany the releasing of the doves during the Opening Ceremony.^[4]

Life and Music Career

Early Years

Tan was raised in a musical family in Houma, Shanxi Province, China. When she was eight years old she began to study piano and gave her first onstage performance at age 9. She started singing lessons with her mother at age 11. As a teen she knew she wanted to combine her love for music with her love for her country. After graduating from the Vocal Music Department of the Chinese Conservatory of Music in 1998, she was admitted to the Song and Dance Ensemble of the People’s Liberation Army.^[5]

Rise to Prominence

In 1996, Tan won first prize in the National New Singer Competition and took home the “Voice of Asia” International Grand Singer Award in 1997.^[6] She began performing as a solo singer in the Song and Dance Ensemble in 1998 and gained further recognition for winning second place at the Voice of Asia Music Competition in Kazakhstan where she represented China the same year.^[7] In 2000, she won the Professional Pop category of the BuBuGao National Young Vocalist Competition sponsored by CCTV and was honored as the Most Popular Singer.^[8] This year also marked her first appearance on the annual Spring Festival Gala.

Professional Breakthrough and International Success

Tan held a successful solo concert of army songs at the Beijing Workers' Stadium in 2004. Her international breakthrough came in 2006, when she performed a solo concert at the Golden Hall in Vienna, Austria.^[9] In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Tan held a solo concert on the Great Wall of China, becoming the first performer to do so.^[10] In 2011, she collaborated with Robert Wells, Glenn Hughes, Wynne Evans, and Blake to bring a set of her most famous songs in a blend of Chinese and Western styles to a sold out audience at the Royal Albert Hall in London.^[11]

International Spokesperson

Tan often contributes to cultural activities and sporting events around the world. She performed during the closing ceremonies of the 15th Asian Games in Doha 2006.^[12] and the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai. As a spokesperson for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing she took part in the Olympic activities from beginning to end as a singer, torchbearer, and volunteer. Her song, Sky, was played during the releasing of the doves during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games and she gave live performances during the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games and the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games that summer. She also released a special Olympic album, from which Sky, Fly With You, and Let Me Have You became popular.^[13]

In 2010, Tan Jing served as a volunteer spokesperson for the Shanghai World Expo, where she recorded the Expo’s theme song, The World, performed during the opening ceremony, and held a large-scale public concert for the Expo volunteers.^[14] She held another concert as spokesperson for the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.^[15] In 2011 she was appointed spokesperson for the World Horticulture Exposition in Xi’an, China. In 2012, she will serve as the spokesperson for UEFA, promoting the UEFA Champions League in China.^[16]

References