Zhong Chenle

Zhong Chenle
Zhong Chenle on the red carpet of the 9th Gaon Chart Music Awards, January 8, 2020.
Born	(2001-11-22) 22 November 2001 (age 19) Shanghai, China
Occupation	Singer actor songwriter
Musical career
Genres	K-pop Mandopop
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2009–present
Labels	SM Avex Trax
Associated acts	NCT NCT U NCT Dream SM Town
Musical artist
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	鍾辰樂
Simplified Chinese	钟辰乐
showTranscriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhōng Chénlè Southern Min Hokkien POJ Chiong sîn-ga̍k
Korean name
Hangul	종진락
Hanja	鐘辰樂
showTranscriptions Revised Romanization Jong Jin-rak McCune–Reischauer Chong Chinrak

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 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 the 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]

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.^{[citation needed]}

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^{[citation needed]}.

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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

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 and NCT Dream[]

In August 2016, at only the age of 14, he began his career in South Korea by debuting as a member of NCT Dream, a sub-unit of NCT. He is one of the four members in the entire group alongside Renjun (the other Chinese member of NCT Dream), Shotaro, and Sungchan, who was not introduced as a part of SM Rookies before their 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]

Chenle became the main DJ of the radio show Yuedong Seoul on October 12, 2020. The show airs from 9 pm to 10 pm KST. The show is live-streamed on the official TBS eFM 101.3MHz youtube channel. ^[11]

In February 2021, Chenle was featured on IMLAY's song "Too Good", from his 4th EP "UTOPIA".^[12]

Discography[]

Albums[]

• Tomorrow (2010)
• My Wings (2011)
• You Are There (2014)

Singles[]

Filmography[]

Films[]

Television Series[]

Variety Shows[]

Radio Shows[]

Awards[]

References[]