Kevin Yung — the man with the incredible female voice

A MALE vocalist with the ability to sing in a natural female voice continues to fascinate music-lovers turning out for nightly performances at the 26th Biennial Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival at Queen’s Hall St Ann’s. Kevin Yung is the man with a voice many female singers dream of having and his use of this instrument has been making waves in numerous categories at the festival, which began on March 3 and runs until the 28. Described as a counter-tenor, Yung’s vocal quality is compared to that of a mezzo contralto, which is usually considered the normal range of a female singer, according to festival manager Joslynne Sealey.

At Tuesday night’s festival, Yung took up position among six female singers in Class 53 - Lieder, in which participants had the freedom to deliver their own choices of music. In this category, both the singer and accompanist, on piano, were adjudicated for their renditions of two contrasting pieces, with not more than 3 and a half minutes for each item. Appearing in position number four, accompanied by Jaime Cooper, Yung belted out “Verbor Genheit,” from Hugo Wolf and “Fruhlingstraum,” (for which no composer was attributed). When Yung was announced to commence his presentation, pianist Jenise Monsegue, was beaming with excitement back stage.

She said: “I must hear him sing. His voice is so incredible.” The audience, it seemed, felt the same way when he completed his repertoire. Musicans at the festival said that a male performer developing such a vocal texture as Yung is unique in any part of the world. The lieder class was one of two in which Yung competed on the night. Oratorio - Gent’s Voice in Class 52b was the other category he entered. Yung has also performed in Class 48a - Tenor solo. But, despite his tonal quality, he cannot participate in classes exclusive to female performers. Of the six classes advertised to take place on the night’s playbill, the popular operatic ensemble, classed as 63, was scratched since none of the three contestants listed turned up.
The absence of the operatic ensembles made way for the premier of adult gospel soloists in class 49.

Fourteen singers, of the 21 listed to appear, were on location to sing songs of praise, all of whom were familiar voices. Among them were Maureen Jennings, Peeche De Coteau, Kevin Yung, Jacqueline Smith and Raymond Edwards. Jennings gave an exciting rendition of “More Than Wonderful,” while Smith and De Coteau chose for their performances “In the Name of the Lord.” For Edwards it was “God and God Alone.” But when it came time to minister to the “congregation” that job was placed in the hands of Gideon Ovid of Head Stone Tabernacle Choir, Sangre Grande. The 20 year-old management student at the UWI, St Augustine, who plays the piano and organ, sang “I Need You,” by Smokey Noville, with no less passion than that of a televangelist. 

The Results:
Class 52b - Oratorio - Gent’s Voice
1. Dirk Govia
2. Philip Seesahai
3. Marlon David

Class 59 - Ladies Vocal Trio
1. The Banfield Trio
2. Lydians Ladies Trio “B”
3. The Nightingales

Class 53 - Lieder
1. Kendra Sylvester & Jiselle Warner
1. Vanessa Bushe & Johanna Chuckaree
2. Patrice Quammie & Paschal Belgrave
3. Kevin Yung & Jaime Cooper
 
Class 49 - Gospel Solo
1. Raymond Edwards
1. Jacqueline Smith
2. Peece De Coteau
3. Angela Joseph

Class 75a - Calypso Chorale (without choreography, swaying, slight movement)
1. BACTE Teachers’ Chorale