Zhong Chenle
Zhong Chenle (Chinese: 钟辰乐; born 22 November 2001),[1] known professionally by the mononym Chenle (Hangul: 천러), is a Chinese singer, songwriter, and actor currently based in Seoul, South Korea. Chenle started his career as a child singer, having performed in various concerts and television shows in China and abroad. At age 9, he was the youngest singer in the world to be invited to sing at Golden Hall of Vienna with a solo performance.[2] By age 14, Chenle had released three solo albums and hosted one solo concert in China. In 2016, Chenle came to South Korea to join South-Korean boy group NCT, debuting as a part of their youth sub-unit NCT Dream and has since been active in NCT Dream activities, so far releasing three Korean EPs and conducted one Asia tour together with the group.[3][4]
Zhong Chenle | |||||||||||
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 Zhong Chenle on the red carpet of the 9th Gaon Chart Music Awards, January 8, 2020. | |||||||||||
| Born | 22 November 2001 Shanghai, China | ||||||||||
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| Musical career | |||||||||||
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| Years active | 2009–present | ||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 鍾辰樂 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 钟辰乐 | ||||||||||
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| Korean name | |||||||||||
| Hangul | 중천러 | ||||||||||
| Hanja | 鐘辰樂 | ||||||||||
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Early life
Chenle was born in Shanghai, China on 22 November 2001. He studied at Beijing Contemporary Music School. In 2006, he entered the small television station Shanghai Ying Siu Sing School and went to dance classes. In 2008, he was admitted to Shanghai Little Flute Art Troupe and studied vocal music with Huang Jing.
Career
2009–2015: Solo activities
In 2009, Zhong participated in the Hajj children's channel held by Yueyue Elf Vs Season Trial and won the runner-up and Elf Genie Award.
In 2010, he participated in the National Chinese Young Talent Selection activities and won the vocal group a gold medal. On 16 June 2011, as a part of the starring actress Xiao Jiabin attending the second Nie Er Music Week opening ceremony (Shanghai Grand Theater), Zhong led the audience of thousands to sing the national anthem.
In January 2011, at age 9, Zhong was invited to perform the song Memory from Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, Cats, at the Golden Hall of Vienna - at the time he was the youngest singer to have ever held a solo performance there.[2]
In July 2011, his second solo album, My Wings, was released with a total of 12 songs. On 31 July 2011, Zhong participated in the opening ceremony of Shanghai International Children's Art Festival on the Shanghai Grand Stage and also the Closing Ceremony of Shanghai International Children's Art Festival at Shanghai International Convention Center on 4 August 2011.
Zhong began his professional career as a singer after competing in singing competitions such as China's Got Talent.[5] He has released 3 albums.[6] He used to do cover songs and upload them to YouTube. Many of his covers are of former child star Declan Galbraith.[7] He is part of the World Organization of Child Ambassadors of Peace with HQ in Washington, DC, founded and presided by pianist, songwriter, and producer, Ezekiel Elkin, representing China as a young cultural diplomat around the world. He was the Chinese Ambassador at The Musical Summit, an international multicultural show created by Elkin which took place in Buenos Aires City in August 2014 where he performed "The Dragon's Romance", a song Elkin wrote especially for him.
In December 2012, Zhong participated in the First Plenary Session of the Huangpu District of Shanghai and elected the district chief with the highest votes. His first known acting minor roles were in 2013 when he was 11 years old, he was featured in Chinese Drama, The Queen of SOP 2. In 2014, he held a solo concert at the Shanghai Concert Hall.[8]
2016–present: Debut with NCT
In August 2016, he started doing activities in South Korea by debuting as a member of the sub-unit NCT Dream, a rotational unit of NCT consisting of teenage members. He is one of the two members in the entire group alongside Renjun (the other Chinese member of NCT Dream) who was not introduced as a part of SM Rookies before the group's debut. He debuted in NCT after only 4 months of training.[9]
On 30 April 2020, it was announced via Beijing Contemporary Music Academy's official Weibo.com account that Chenle, alongside fellow bandmate Renjun, officially graduated from the school with the class of 2020.[10]
Discography
Albums
- Tomorrow (2010)
- My Wings (2011)
- You Are There (2014)
Singles
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Yellow Maple Leave | Shanghai Art Humanities Channel "Time Song" Premiere |
| 2012 | Strong Children | A sound of a guitar accompaniment solo |
| Do Not Be Afraid | Movie: "Monster Wanted Order" theme song | |
| Amazing Grace | Shenzhen Satellite TV "Beware 00" Opening Remarks | |
| An Angel | Shenzhen TV "The Mysterious Baby Mid-Autumn Festival Concert with Rice" Premiere | |
| Childhood Companion | "Jade Qiaolin Story" OST | |
| Travel The Wind | "Jade Qiaolin Story" theme song | |
| Ben | Cover Song | |
| Eyes on Me | ||
| Can You Feel The Love Tonight | Movie: "The Lion King" Theme Song | |
| 2014 | 龙月情缘 (The Dragon's Romance) | Wunderkindz by "Zeke & The Kiddos" (The Musical Summit) in Buenos Aires City, Argentina |
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Title in Mandarin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Soul Rhythm | 靈魂的節奏 | Pre-debut |
| 2014 | A Candy for Mother (A Short Film) | 掌心的糖果 | Pre-debut |
Television Series
| Year | Title | Title in Mandarin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | The Queen of SOP 2 | 勝女的代價2 | Pre-debut |
| Bund Police | 外滩警事 |
Variety Shows
| Year | Title | Title in Mandarin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | China's Got Talent | 中国达人秀 | Pre-debut |
| Sunday My Biggest | 周日我最大 | Performing the song "Tomorrow" | |
| 2011 | Happy Blue Sky | 快乐蓝天下 | Performing the song "Memory" |
| We Have a Set | 我们有一套 | Performing the song "Memory" and "You Raise Me Up" | |
| Day Day Up | 天天向上 | Performing the song "Memory" | |
| 2012 | Red Star | 红星闪闪 | |
| Talented Children's Voice | 天才童声 | ||
| Innocence Hit the Earth | 童心撞地球 | ||
| Table Plan | 同桌计划 | Performing the song "Memory" | |
| Sound One Team | 天声一队 | Performing "Memory", "Tell Me Why" and other songs. | |
| The Mysterious Baby Mid-Autumn Festival Concert with Rice | 饭没了秀之魔力宝宝中秋演唱会 | Performing the song "Tell Me Why" | |
| Beware 00 | 小心00后 | Performing the song "Amazing Grace" | |
| 2013 | Flash World | 闪天下 | Performing the songs "My Songs", "Tell Me Why" and "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" |
| I Love My Motherland | 我爱我的祖国 | Performing the song "You Raise Me Up" | |
| Super Voice | 超级童声 | Judge | |
| China New Voice Generation | 中国新声代 | Performing "Amazing Grace" and "Snail" | |
| 2014 | Wunderkindz by "Zeke & The Kiddos" | 神童们 | Performing the song "The Dragon's Romance" (El romance del dragón - 龙月情缘) |
Awards
| Year | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Yueyue Elf Vs Season Trial "Elf Genie Award" | Won |
| 2010 | National Outstanding Students Competition | Won |
| 2010 | National Award For Young Talents in China | Won |
References
- "Artist Profile". NCTDREAM Official WebSite. SM Entertainment. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
- "Introducing Chenle Zhong". Netease. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- "NCT Official Website". NCT. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- "NCTDREAM Official WebSite". NCT Dream. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ""达人"选手国庆忙 张志林签下音乐达人钟辰乐". Tencent. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- "8岁"达人"钟辰乐被签 要发专辑《天籁童声》". Netease. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- "Introducing Chenle Zhong". Netease. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- "钟辰乐上海音乐厅演唱会圆满落幕". Sina. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- "SM新男团NCT DREAM将于25日出道 14岁中国籍成员公开". People's Daily. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- "北京市现代音乐学校新浪微博". Weibo (in Chinese). 30 April 2020.