Karaoke World Championships
Did you know that there was such as thing as a Karaoke World Championship? It was started in 2003 in Finland with citizens from seven different countries entering the competition. By 2007, over thirty countries were represented. Each year, national audition trials search the world for the best Karaoke singer and the man and woman who win the audition trials go on to compete in the Karaoke World Championship. Since its inception, the championship has been held in Finland, on a cruise ship in the Baltic Sea, and Thailand. The 2008 competition will once again be held in Finland from October 23 to 25 in Lahti Hall.
The 2008 Karaoke World Championship is only the sixth running of this interesting and creative display of singers from around the world. The competition is going to be held in Finland the next three years and Lahti Fairs Oy and Eastway Oys - the leading stage sound and light event management company in Finland - will be producing it for the KWC Organization. They are hoping that this year's production will be the best and largest yet.
The KWC sets up the championship so that corresponds with the autumn holiday for the school children. The daytime hours of the first day is dedicated to the kids and concerts are organized for them. That night the opening concert kicks off the entertainment until the next morning and the winners from the 2007 championships will perform. The actual semi-finals competition start on the second night of the event and continue through the event until the best male and female karaoke performers are crowned the night of the last day of the championship. Audience members will get a chance to be dance with the singers and orchestra as well as sing some karaoke of the own at one of the three different spots that are set up for the public.
The KWC is committed to providing fans of karaoke all over the world the best and fairest competition each year in a fun, enjoyable, and professional environment. They hope this event will help people understand and respect this form of entertainment more and help undiscovered artists get the exposure they need to move ahead with a professional music career. They are continuously striving to bring more people together and participate in the many competitions. They would like to see more than fifty countries taking part in the KWC events within the next few years.
Winners of the Karaoke World Championship have been honored with many opportunities since being crowned. In 2005, the Princess of Thailand invited the top five male and female champions of that year to Bangkok to perform as part of the 'KWC Lights Up The Night' fundraiser concert. The money went to help aid the tsunami victims and was an exclusive black tie affair. Additionally, the 2005 third place World Champion Ari Koivunen competed on 'Idols' - the Finnish version of American Idol - and took first place on April 6, 2007. The prize: a professional recording contract.
In the United States there are a number of national contests. This list changes frequently, but below are some of the Contests coming up in 2008.
Talent Quest 2008 - National Contest; Enter through a local contest or pay your own way. Locals. Regionals. Finals Sept. 21-28, 2008. Talent Quest 2008
Karaoke World Series - KWS Karaoke World Series
Karaoke Fest 2008- Southern California Regional Contest sponsored by Karaoke Scene Magazine, with 25 qualifying venues this year. Qualifying begins July 7 and runs through August 10. Finals will be held September 13, 2008 at the L.A. County Fair. Karaoke Fest 2008
