{"id":72056,"date":"2012-11-09T18:13:41","date_gmt":"2012-11-09T09:13:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fukuoka-now.com\/?page_id=29919"},"modified":"2016-04-01T00:50:26","modified_gmt":"2016-03-31T15:50:26","slug":"gaikokujin-star-tanjo-2013-contestants","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/en\/gaikokujin-star-tanjo-2013-contestants\/","title":{"rendered":"Gaikokujin Star Tanjo 2013 – Contestants"},"content":{"rendered":"

2013 CONTESTANTS NAMED!<\/strong>
\nCongratulations to the seven acts to pass the audition for this year’s Gaikokujin Star Tanjo event. And the contestants are… Andrew Frisbie (Vocals & Keyboard, US), Asylum (Rapper, US), Calienta Rueda (Latin Dance Team, Various Nationalities), Jean-Charles Schenker (Vocals, France), Manisha Bastola (Nepalese Dance, Nepal), Min Hu (Vocals, China), The Lost Armoire of Baltimore: 1974 (Guitar Duo, US\/Canada).<\/p>\n

PRIZES<\/strong>
\nThe stakes are high for our seven acts of Gaikokujin Star Tanjo 2013. Here are the prizes…<\/em>
\n1st Prize: \u00a5100,000 Cash
\n2nd Prize: \u00a530,000 Hakata Hankyu shopping coupon
\n3rd Prize: \u00a520,000
\n4th Prize: \u00a510,000 AMU Plaza Hakata shopping coupon
\n5th Prize: \u00a510,000 AMU Plaza Hakata shopping coupon
\n6th Prize: \u00a510,000 AMU Plaza Hakata shopping coupon
\n7th Prize: \u00a510,000 AMU Plaza Hakata shopping coupon<\/p>\n

Please cheer them on when they take to the big stage at JR Kyushu Hall on Oct. 5 and compete for \u00a5100,000 cash, more prizes, fun and fame – in addition to other fabulous stage acts, DJs, dancers and international food and drinks. It’s the international party of the year. Advance tickets are already on sale for just \u00a51,500 (incl. 1 drink!) For more info on the event and party click here: http:\/\/fukuoka-now.com\/gaikokujin-star-tanjo\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Get to know the contestants a little better! Scroll through the bios below…<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\nThe Lost Armoire of Baltimore: 1974 (The LAB)<\/strong>
\nHometown: Canada \/ US
\nResiding in: Ogori City
\nAct: Two piece acoustic band
\n\"image-5<\/p>\n

Jared Haroutunian on vocals\/guitar and Curtis Cahoon on guitar are \u201cThe Lost Armoire of Baltimore: 1974 (The LAB)\u201d. The two Ogori City students come from the US and Canada. Jared has played guitar since middle school. He draws influences from Coldplay, John Mayer, and Dave Grohl, and has a melodic and almost percussive sound with its own unique flavor. Curtis started playing acoustic guitar in high school, and after getting into punk rock bands he joined a hard rock\/metal band playing bass. He has studied music theory and the styles of different guitarists – from classical to modern. Together they are The LAB – their original songs made up of dual acoustic guitar, spoken word and melodic vocals in a mix of Japanese and English. The pair will play an original 3-min song \u201cZashiki Warashi\u201d.<\/p>\n

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\nAsylum<\/strong>
\nHometown: American
\nResiding in: Saza City, Nagasaki
\nAct: Rapper
\n\"Asylum2\"<\/p>\n

Asylum is a Texas born rapper, combining old and new hip-hop with rock, with great stage presence. He released an LP record, \u201cCoalesce.\u201d in Dec. 2012 – with fourteen tracks comprising just over forty minutes worth of excellent rhymes and rhythms. His style is generally dark and spacious, with lots of room for his poetry to sink in between the beats. Asylum grew into rap music from writing classical poetry. He has been making music for around 5 years, and has played various events in Japan including those in Sasebo, Fukuoka, Isahaya and Kumamoto. His natural rhythm and groove are worth checking out. He\u2019ll be performing an original rap on stage at JR Kyushu Hall on Oct. 5.<\/p>\n

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\nCalienta Rueda<\/strong>
\nHometown: Czech Republic, Mexico, UK, USA
\nResiding in: Beppu, Oita
\nAct: Latin Dance
\n\"Calienta<\/p>\n

This international team of four Latin dance enthusiasts enter the contest with a unique brand of Cuban salsa\/rueda choreography that\u2019s got a strong focus on fun. Calienta Rueda Team is made up of four teachers and lecturers from Oita – Jana Rezkova (Czech Republic), Alfredo Bolanos Lopez (Mexico), Julia Jean Davies (UK) and Edward Kellerman (USA). Each member has been dancing for some time, but the team formed in 2011\/12. Last year they started their own Latin night in Beppu where they\u2019ve performed several times. Calienta Rueda dance all kinds of Latin dance styles, but focus mainly on Cuban Salsa and Rueda with bits of Reggaeton. Though from varied backgrounds (salsa, yoga, bellydance, latin dance), the four dancers move in harmony, and are always out to create a fun and lively atmosphere for themselves and the audience! Their performance at Star Tanjo tells the story of two couples who communicate through music and dance, a story of passion and seduction. Don\u2019t miss it!<\/p>\n

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\nMin Hu<\/strong>
\nHometown: China
\nResiding in: Fukuoka
\nAct: Acoustic guitar & vocals
\n\"humin<\/p>\n

Min Hu is a graduate student from China currently studying in Fukuoka. He puts his own spin on popular Western pop songs by writing original arrangements, something he has a lot of fun doing. Min\u2019s dream is to become a singer-songwriter. He has sung for years and practices whenever and wherever he gets the chance – onstage, offstage, on the street, at home, and (although he admits it sounds unprofessional) inside his bathroom! Recently he has taken to the streets of Tenjin with his songs. He\u2019ll take to the Star Tanjo stage with an acoustic guitar Lady Gaga medley – with backup from Yimi Xu (China). So what\u2019s Min Hu\u2019s motto? He\u2019s going to \u201cSing and rock them all!\u201d<\/p>\n

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\nManisha Bastola<\/strong>
\nHometown: Nepal
\nResiding in: Fukuoka
\nAct: Nepalese Dance<\/p>\n

\"Manisha\"<\/p>\n

Multi-talented Manisha from Nepal can sing and act too, but on Oct. 5 she plans to share her dancing talent with the international audience and celebrity judges. Although she has never received formal training, dancing has been a constant hobby of Manisha\u2019s since childhood. She entered various dance competitions in Nepal and always placed higher than third position, and has performed in Japan too. Her style is fast paced, engaging and animated. Manisha dances to fulfill her own hobby, and to share her country\u2019s identity to Fukuoka – let\u2019s cheer her on as the only solo female act in this year\u2019s Gaikokujin Star Tanjo contest. She says she\u2019s gonna \u201chope for the best and rock the party!\u201d<\/p>\n

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\nJean-Charles Schenker <\/strong>
\nHometown: France
\nResiding in: Fukuoka\/Paris
\nAct: Vocals<\/p>\n

\"Jean<\/p>\n

As the Deputy Director of the French Institute in Fukuoka Japan, it\u2019s only fitting that Jean-Charles Schenker can belt out a classic French tune! Having taken classical vocal lessons for six years, Jean-Charles has both a love and a talent for singing. He has sung traditional songs in small cabaret shows and other intimate venues. He loves French songs because they are unique and convey feelings with sensitivity and emotion. Make him feel at home as he takes to the big stage of JR Kyushu Hall to sing the famous tune \u201cLes Champs-Elys\u00e9es\u201d! Bonne Chance!<\/p>\n

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\nAndrew Frisbie\u00a0<\/strong>
\nHometown: American
\nResiding in: Sasebo
\nAct: Vocals\/keyboard
\n\"Andrew\"<\/p>\n

With 18 years singing experience and 6 years playing the piano, American Andrew Frisbie has been passionate about music for most of his life. He started out in his high school choir and gradually developed his piano skills in college. Since coming to Japan in Nov. 2011, Andrew has played and sung in the chapel bands at Fleet Activities Sasebo. He considers himself a jack-of-all-trades in music, performing everything from R&B and pop to opera and spiritual songs. See Andrew give it his all and share his talent with the crowds, singing \u201cLet Her Cry\u201d by Hootie and the Blowfish at this year\u2019s Star Tanjo contest!<\/p>\n

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\nCome cheer them on, as these seven remarkable performers light up the stage at JR Kyushu Hall on Oct. 5. Who do you think will be crowned this year\u2019s most talented foreigner in Fukuoka?\u00a0Coming to the ultimate decision on the night, this year\u2019s panel of celebrity judges\u2026<\/p>\n

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\nJUDGE #1:\u00a0<\/strong>Micaela Braithwaite (Kawaii-ku Chief of Ward)<\/p>\n

\"Ikeda
\nJUDGE #2:\u00a0<\/strong>Sumitaka Ikeda (Stylish Labo Fukuoka CEO)<\/p>\n

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\nJUDGE #3:\u00a0<\/strong>TK Ziemba (Love FM \u201cTop 40 Countdown\u201d)<\/p>\n

And introducing this year’s charismatic MC\u2026<\/p>\n

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\n<\/em><\/em>MC:\u00a0<\/strong>Sebo (Love FM<\/a> “C’est ca la France” & “Afternoon Delight”)<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t miss the chance to be part of the audience (and party!) for this year\u2019s fourth annual Gaikokujin Star Tanjo Event!\u00a0Advance tickets are already on sale for just \u00a51,500 (incl. 1 drink!) For more info on the event and party click here:\u00a0http:\/\/fukuoka-now.com\/gaikokujin-star-tanjo\/<\/a><\/p>\n