The Road to Superstardom: Starting as a Singer

The following day, at the Curtis Institute of Music.

This prestigious music school, located in Philadelphia, is renowned for its rigorous admission standards and outstanding classical music education.

The graduation ceremony was held in the college auditorium.

Dark wood walls, comfortable red chairs, and in front of you a stage covered with dark velvet, with a Steinway grand piano standing quietly on one side of the stage.

In addition to graduates and their families, the attendees included college professors, administrators, and some invited alumni.

Huang Weijie, wearing a rented graduation gown over a white shirt and a dark tie, sat in the graduate area.

Next to him were classmates he had met over the past few years, most of whom were musical prodigies around seventeen or eighteen years old.

However, at this moment, they all unusually put aside their usual liveliness or arrogance, appearing somewhat nervous and excited.

The ceremony proceeded smoothly: the dean gave a speech, a professor representative spoke, and outstanding graduates were recognized...

The atmosphere was solemn and slightly somber, befitting the ambiance of a classical music hall.

Huang Weijie listened quietly, but part of his mind was already on the upcoming segment.

According to the original procedure, the graduation ceremony performance should have consisted entirely of classical music pieces performed by the graduates.

Piano solos, violin concertos, vocal arias, and so on.

Huang Weijie initially only prepared one Chopin etude.

But Jave Records stepped in.

Just after the recording of "Baby" was completed and the initial internal listening test received excellent feedback, his agent made a bold request to the academy: could Huang Weijie perform this upcoming original pop single at the graduation ceremony?

This request was met with strong opposition from some conservative professors from the outset.

Curtis is a temple of classical music, and the graduation ceremony is a serious academic ceremony. How can you sing "pop songs"?

But Jave Records won't fight a battle they're not prepared for.

For every opponent, there is a supporter.

A piano professor who had taught at Curtis for many years but was open to cross-disciplinary music was "inspired" by Jave Records and defied public opinion by offering several reasons.

First, Huang Weijie had excellent grades and impeccable professional skills during his school years, which proves his respect for and mastery of classical music.

Secondly, the essence of music is expression and communication. Classical and popular music are not clearly distinct, and many great musicians have drawn inspiration from folk music.

Third, this also serves as a window to showcase the diverse development possibilities of Curtis graduates to the public, which is not necessarily a bad thing for the college's image.

Finally, he joked, "Can't the geniuses we at Curtis train really handle a three-minute pop song?"

More importantly, Jave Records did some behind-the-scenes work, suggesting that the huge exposure this single and subsequent album could potentially benefit Curtis Academy’s brand recognition among a wider range of young people.

As the saying goes: "All the world's hustle and bustle is for profit; all the world's chaos is for gain."

Ultimately, after discussion, the college management reluctantly agreed, but designated it as a "showcase of innovation by outstanding graduates," and stipulated that it would only be held once and not again.

The performance order was also deliberately arranged after several classic classical pieces, as a kind of "Easter egg".

Huang Weijie was fully aware of this.

He didn't care what the academy's reasons were for agreeing, as long as the stage could be utilized.

Jive Records also seized this opportunity, sending a two-person filming crew. With permission from the academy, they set up a professional camera behind the side of the auditorium to record Huang Weijie's performance in its entirety, as valuable material for future promotion.

......

The ceremony then moved on to the performance segment.

The first few graduates to take the stage presented excerpts from Bach's unaccompanied violin suites, Mozart's piano sonatas, and an opera aria.

The exquisite skills and solemn musical atmosphere filled the auditorium with an elegant artistic ambiance, prompting many parents to nod frequently and the professors to show their approval.

Then, the host announced: "Next, please welcome graduate Jace Huang to bring us his original musical work, 'Baby'."

"Clap clap clap..."

Polite but slightly puzzled applause rang out from the audience.

Many formally dressed parents and some serious-looking professors exchanged glances, some of them puzzled.

Original piece? Isn't it a classical piece?

Huang Weijie stood up, took off his heavy graduation gown and handed it to the classmate next to him, revealing a well-fitting white shirt and black slim-fit trousers underneath.

He walked steadily onto the stage, not towards the piano, but towards the microphone stand that had already been set up in the center of the stage.

A staff member jogged up and handed him an electric-acoustic guitar.

This action caused a slight commotion in the audience.

The sight of an electric guitar and a standing microphone in the hallowed halls of classical music is rather jarring.

Huang Weijie adjusted the microphone height, slung the guitar strap over his shoulder, and nodded to the student in charge of sound control to his side and behind.

Then, he faced the audience, his gaze sweeping across the stage.

He saw the tightly clasped hands and slightly nervous look in the hands of his grandfather Huang Shengchang in the front row, and he also saw the red light on the Jive company's camera on the side of the stage.

Without much preamble, he simply spoke into the microphone in a clear voice: "This song is dedicated to the coming summer, and to us who are forever young."

As soon as the words were spoken, a lively and upbeat electronic drum intro came through the auditorium's high-quality sound system.

Immediately afterwards, Huang Weijie's slender fingers plucked the guitar strings, adding a refreshing and smooth arpeggio.

"Ohh wooaahh~"

"You know you love me, I know you care..."

A clear, bright, and energetic young voice rang out, instantly breaking the solemn and almost stagnant atmosphere in the auditorium.

The audience members, especially the young graduates, were stunned at first, then their eyes slowly lit up.

This melody... is so catchy!

Simple, direct, sunny, and dynamic, it's completely different from the complex and profound classical pieces we just heard.

Huang Weijie swayed gently to the rhythm on stage, his face radiating a sunny and infectious smile.

His singing was relaxed and confident, and although the guitar accompaniment was not complicated, it precisely enhanced the melody.

During the chorus, when the catchy "Baby, baby, baby, oh~" was repeated, many young students couldn't help but nod slightly or tap their feet to the beat.

An ear conditioned by classical music is exceptionally sensitive to pitch and rhythm.

They could tell that the singing technique of this "pop song" was not cheap; the control of the voice, the stability of the breath, and the precision of the rhythm all demonstrated solid basic skills.

The way it's expressed is so fresh, straightforward, and full of vitality.

On the professor's desk, the professor who supported Huang Weijie smiled and nodded slightly.

Some professors who had initially opposed the idea, though still keeping a straight face, seemed to have relaxed their furrowed brows slightly.

At least, the child's professional skills are excellent, and he did not tarnish Curtis's reputation.

The most excited people were the film crew from Jive Records.

They stared intently at the camera viewfinder, recording the subtle changes in the audience's expressions—from confusion to surprise to immersion—and capturing the radiant young man on stage.

These images, paired with the title "First performance at Curtis Institute of Music Graduation Ceremony," would make for a fantastic publicity stunt!

Huang Shengchang sat in the audience, watching his grandson who seemed to glow on stage. His palms were slightly red from clapping so hard, and his eyes welled up with tears again.

He didn't understand any complicated musical techniques, but he could feel the joy and power in the singing and see the passion that was ignited in the young people around him.

His grandson has truly grown up and is about to soar into his own vast sky.

As the music ended, the last note faded away.

A brief silence fell over the auditorium, followed by a torrent of applause, more enthusiastic and sustained than any previous classical piece, especially from the graduating section, which nearly lifted the roof off.

"WOOO—!!!"

"OH MY GOD!!!"

"ENCORE!!!"

Many young people stood up, whistling and cheering loudly.

If the entire graduation ceremony is an elegant and classical performance, they will naturally remain restrained and polite.

Against this serious backdrop, the song "Baby" is like a breath of fresh air, blowing into the hall of classical music and bringing a pure, youthful joy.

These young people were instantly ignited!

Huang Weijie bowed slightly, and in response he received another wave of shouts.

"JACE!!!JACE!!!JACE!!!"

Huang Weijie bowed again, his smile exceptionally bright.

He knew that his "debut" was a success!

......

After the graduation ceremony, Huang Shengchang and Huang Weijie walked side by side on the lawn outside the college.

The setting sun casts a golden glow on the ancient buildings.

Huang Shengchang held Huang Weijie's graduation certificate in his hand, looked at it again and again, and then carefully put it away.

"Jay, seeing your performance on stage today, Grandpa is really...really happy for you!"

"Grandpa, what are you saying? I'm your grandson, so if you're going to say that, you should be happy for yourself first!"

"Haha, you silly child..."

Huang Shengchang stopped and looked at his grandson: "I have to fly back to China tomorrow. There are a few important projects to negotiate at the company, and I really can't leave."

His face showed obvious regret, "Your single will be officially released on the 20th, and Grandpa may not be able to be with you to witness it this time."

Huang Weijie put his arm around his grandfather's shoulder and smiled brightly: "Oh, what's the big deal? The internet is so developed now, you can see how your grades are online. You can know the news immediately even if you're in China."

"Come over when I hold my first concert later; that will be an even bigger event."

Huang Shengchang was amused by his grandson's words, and the slight regret in his heart was greatly reduced: "Okay, then Grandpa will be waiting to see you hold a concert, and I'll sit in the front row!"

It's a deal.

The grandfather and grandson chatted for a while longer in the Philadelphia sunset.

After dropping Huang Shengchang off at the airport, Huang Weijie returned to Los Angeles.

The release date of the single is just around the corner.

Curtis's successful "debut" at his graduation ceremony is being meticulously edited by Jive Records.

I'm ready to jump into the promotional frenzy on the day the single is released.

Everything is ready; the real battle is about to begin...