A Star is Born

Those of you who personally know Cheryl Tan Yin Yi will no doubt agree that there is little she cannot do.

She is humble, hardworking and quietly competitive, with a resume that boasts an remarkable array of achievements in almost every field fathomable. Some of her accomplishments include getting selected to represent Kelantan in the upcoming SUKMA karate competitions, representing Kuala Lumpur in the SUKMA fencing competitions 2004 (making it to the quarter-finals, no less), leading Rumah Seladang's cheerleading team and participating in the grueling Platinum Expedition 2005, not to mention her recent installation as a school prefect. It doesn't stop there-Cheryl manages to stay above the rest at her studies as well; winning numerous gold medals for academic achievement as well as her recent promotion to Form Five Science One.

While all of this is extremely impressive, most of us know Cheryl Tan for her innate ability to charm audience upon audience with her captivating stage presence and lilting singing voice. Our resident Julie Andrews has performed in numerous school events, among them the annual Commencements and Dinner Show, Talent Time and the recent production of Simba: King of the Jungle. Beyond that, she has also been involved in various productions by prominent performing arts companies and directors, namely The Actor's Studio, Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Company and Gavin Yap.

Cheryl is an interesting person to talk to; she is very opinionated and always speaks her mind. She is clearly very motivated to work hard, and she knows exactly what she wants out of life and how to go about achieving it. So have a read through this interview, and get to know her a little better. You won't regret it.

YJC: How did you start singing and acting?

Cheryl: My mum put me in drama classes when I was around seven. I used to be really shy before that in kindergarten I was the only Malaysian kid in a class full of Japanese people. I read a lot and didn't talk much.

YJC: Have you always been interested in performing?

Cheryl: Well, it started with the classes; they were something I could do which was fun. I wanted to act at first, but then I started enjoying singing.

YJC: What do you feel really kick started your involvement in the performing arts?

Cheryl: I think it was mostly my performances in school, like the Glee Club when I was in Form 1. That was where I first learned to actually sing properly instead of just messing around. I also used to dance a lot in primary school, and I used to like choreographing. The 'Scared' dance in Standard Six was a monumental experience for me. But being on stage by myself, that started with the Glee Club. There was also the Young Kuala Lumpur Singers (YKLS).

YJC: Is there anyone who particularly inspires or inspired you?

Cheryl: Yes-Julie Andrews, Lea Salonga, Gavin Yap.

YJC: What do you feel was your best performance so far?

Cheryl: I'm not really sure. I suppose so far people have been most impressed with the 'Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better' duet with Aaron Khalid, with the high notes and all.

YJC: Do you feel that anyone played a key role in your success?

Cheryl: My choir teacher, Susanna Saw-she's really cool. Ms Fong (a singing teacher who taught at Cempaka back in 2002) brought out my voice, but Susanna really helped to culture and train it.

YJC: Are your parents supportive of what you do?

Cheryl: Yes, definitely. They give me a lot of room and they don't pester me at all to do well academically. But I do understand that they want me to do well-it's just never said. The only person who puts pressure on me is, well, me. My parents do want me to get a university degree before I continue doing performing arts as a career, though.

YJC: How do you manage your time?

Cheryl: I barely do, actually. I don't watch television and I have no time to read, and I take advantage of the holidays. During exams I normally put things on hold, except for Simba. I normally slack first, then catch up later. It's like...I'll do something else for three months, then study for three months. However, this isn't very good. I'm trying to be more consistent about things these days.

YJC: Do you find it difficult to juggle studying and performing?

Cheryl: Yes. Well, not that difficult...okay la. It's like Form Four-first it's like bad, then you get used to it as you do it more and more.

YJC: What's you're take on the performing arts scene in Malaysia?

Cheryl: I think there are some really talented people around and it's really growing. It's a lot bigger than it used to be. Unfortunately, though, the standards aren't really there yet; they could be much higher. It isn't as good as it could be.

YJC: What about in Cempaka?

Cheryl: Cempaka has a lot of talent. It's a bit stressful because Cempaka has very high expectations of its performers. But they can essentially put on shows at two hours notice, and their shows are very impressive to outsiders. In a way, the push drives you to better standards. I think there's room for improvement, though.

YJC: Who are your favourite actors/singers/performers?

Cheryl: Ari Ratos, Gavin Yap and Emma Thompson...to name a few.

YJC: Have you come across anyone who has acted negatively towards you and your involvement in the performing arts? If so, how did you deal with it?

Cheryl: Yeah...I heard a lot of weird rumours about me in Cheras. But I haven't heard any from Damansara, and certainly none from outsiders. But well, whatever.

YJC: Who do you feel are some of the more talented performers in school?

Cheryl: Chan Nuo En, Veronica, Leon Ang, Yusri, Mei Yen, Chong Ian, My 479, Anastasia and Whiteboard (if they play properly). And my friends, hee hee. This is only from Damansara.

YJC: Do you have anything big on your agenda for this year?

Cheryl: Not really, so far, except for SUKMA. (Cheryl will be representing Kelantan in karate for the upcoming SUKMA competitions).

YJC: Do you intend to continue performing when you've left school?

Cheryl: Yes; what I really want to do is to pursue a degree in musical theatre in maybe the United States. NYU or Julliard would be great. And I really love Broadway.

YJC: What do you intend to do in the future if you decide not to continue performing?

Cheryl: If I don't continue performing, it has to be English , or maybe even something to do with physics. I wouldn't mind teaching English or maybe becoming a journalist. But I would rather do something in the English Language, not English Literature.

YJC: Any advice to aspiring performers?

Cheryl: Work hard. If you work hard enough, you won't feel the need to give up. Don't be lazy and have a very clear idea of what you want. And do everything in high school-that's the only time when you'll have the time.

YJC: How has your prefectship been so far?

Cheryl: Very interesting. Not too bad, makes me very busy, but I wouldn't give it up anytime soon. The only thing is that sometimes I wish I had more time for my other friends. But it's good la.

Cheryl is likely to succeed in whatever she endeavours to do, as she has done all through her time at Cempaka. She's got the determination, grit and full-out passion that it takes to succeed. So remember to watch this space. Cheryl Tan is on the rise.