By: Lena Park

A Conversation with Baritone Wei Chen, Judge of the “Voice of NYC” Singing Competition

In the heart of downtown Brooklyn, where engineering buildings meet quiet rehearsal halls, a unique music tradition has gradually developed: Voice of NYC—a student-run singing competition created by NYU Tandon’s CSSA (Chinese Students and Scholars Association). The event draws performers from across New York City’s major universities, including The Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, The New School, Cornell Tech, SVA, and others. Most contestants are Chinese international students, but the music is diverse and far from uniform—contestants sing in both English and Mandarin, performing genres ranging from pop and R&B to indie and musical theatre.

At the center of the judging panel for the 2022 and 2023 editions was Wei Chen, a classically trained baritone with a foot in both the opera house and the world of pop and rock.

Between Two Worlds: Opera and Pop

“I was invited by the CSSA at NYU Tandon to judge the competition for two years,” says Mr. Chen. “I couldn’t return in 2024 because I had a production as Don Giovanni, but I was genuinely interested in seeing what kinds of talent were emerging from our Chinese student community—not just in classical music, but in pop.”

Though most know him for roles like Don Giovanni, Guglielmo, or Count Almaviva, Chen’s musical background is relatively broad. “I started performing when I was around six or seven years old—long before I had access to classical training,” he says. “For years I sang pop, and I’ve fronted rock bands and performed in live venues even after I turned toward opera. So when I judge, I’m not applying a rigid classical lens. I’m thinking about tone, phrasing, stage presence, and the emotional arc of the performance—elements that tend to matter across genres.”

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Judging with the Audience in Mind

During the finals each year, Chen did more than just score performances on paper. After every singer finished, he would take the microphone to give live feedback—comments that were heard not only by the contestants but also by the audience and fellow guests, including musicians and local producers.

“I wasn’t just evaluating—I was communicating,” he explains. “The goal was to help the singers develop, but also to give the audience a sense of how much thought goes into performance.” A few contestants later reached out for further coaching, something Chen hadn’t anticipated but welcomed as a sign of mutual respect.

Over time, those brief interactions became opportunities to build connections. “I met a lot of people that way—students, musicians, people from all sorts of backgrounds. And I think that’s one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.”

Standout Performances and Musical Moments

The competition typically begins with over 30 preliminary contestants and narrows down to a final 10. Chen recalls a few performances that made a notable impression.

“In 2022, I was particularly impressed by Carol—she appeared to have formal voice training, and her breath support and tonal control reflected that,” he says. “Even though classical and pop technique differ, that foundation appeared to give her a solid stage presence.” In 2023, he remembers contestant No. 5, JoJo, whose ability to convey emotional nuance through her phrasing made her performance especially memorable. “That kind of storytelling is often what makes pop music impactful.

A Stage that Builds Community

Though NYU Tandon’s CSSA served as the primary organizer, the competition brought together student associations from across the city—Fordham, The New School, Pratt, SVA, Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, and Cornell Tech all participated.

“There aren’t many events like this that connect Chinese students across schools through music,” Chen says. “It provides a meaningful opportunity for people who might otherwise never meet.” He also credits the collaborative judging panel, which included Moe, a South African singer who had previously competed on The Voice of China and joined Wilber Pan’s team. “She’s active in both China and the U.S., and she brings a very emotional, stylistically fluid perspective. I learned a great deal from her.”

About Wei Chen

Wei Chen was born into a musical family and has studied classical voice for over a decade. He won first prize in the professional soloist group of the China International Vocal Competition (Singapore), earned an Excellence Award from China’s Golden Bell Awards, and received a gold medal from the World Choir Competition (Macau). As a baritone, he has performed in more than ten operas at venues including the Guangzhou Opera House, Shenzhen Opera House, United Palace in New York, Gerald Lynch Theater, Citi Field, Kaufman Music Center, Miami’s Faena Forum and Italy Trento. He has also collaborated with notable conductors, composers, and stage directors in China, the U.S. and Europe.

Before coming to the U.S. to pursue his studies, he served as the honorary president of the student council for Voice department at Xinghai Conservatory of Music. And while his operatic training is deep, his musical experience is anything but limited—he has spent over a decade singing pop and rock on stage.

“What matters most to me is hearing young performers sing with honesty and courage,” Chen says. “Whether it’s an aria or an R&B—if it’s sincere, it tends to resonate.”

Voice of NYC continues to develop as a musical platform— it offers more than just a stage. It provides connection, reflection, and a real sense of community through music.