Karaoke World Championships (KWC Canada) recently announced the first four singers who will represent Team Canada at the 2016 Karaoke World Championships scheduled for November 1 – 6 in Vancouver, Canada.

The winners for the three categories were:

Men’s Champion: Patrick Dang - 59 – Vancouver

Ladies Champion: Allison Cociani - 39 - East Vancouver

Duet Champions: Melanie Dawn - 26 - Burnaby & Daniel Escobar - 26 Coquitlam

They won their spots after a grueling 10 week qualifying event held at the Two Lions Public House in North Vancouver.

For Men’s champion Patrick Dang it’s completes a journey that started over 40 years ago when the current president of Sprott Shaw College was still living in South Africa. 

“As an aspiring musician in my teens I formed a rock band in high school and always wanted to pursue music. But like most people, professional life takes over. Now in my 50's, I decided to go back to my love of music. KWC has allowed me to relive my younger years and make up for lost time. I love it and feel that singing is truly an extension of who I am as a person.”

Of all the contestants, Dang has received the most media coverage with features in CBC, Vancouver Sun, and numerous other Canadian outlets. Karaoke fans are not only captivated by his smooth voice and range, but the fact his day job is as as a hard-charging CEO of Sprott Shaw College, the biggest private college in BC and oldest in Canada.

The finals this year mark the first time in 15 years that the Karaoke World Championships will take place in North America. 

“To have 50% of Team Canada being represented by singers from the local area is great for Vancouver and for amateur singing in the region," said KWC Canada President and KWC Vancouver 2016 CEO Whitney-John Stuart 

The rest of Team Canada will be chosen at the KWC Canada National Karaoke Championships Grand Finale August 24 - 28 at the Deerfoot Casino in Calgary, Alberta. Over 50 singers from across the country will perform. The top men’s, ladies and duet national champions will join the rest of Team Canada as they compete against 25 + other countries including Japan, China, Russia, Spain, the United States and more.

KWC Canada is the official brand of the Karaoke World Championships in Canada. The Karaoke World Championships (KWC) is the largest and most prestigious karaoke competition in the world.

This multi-cultural international event holds true to the spirit of music, entertainment and fun. Amateur singers from over 25 countries will compete at this year’s event in Vancouver with prizes and the title of World’s best on the line. KWC Canada is a production of Ambleside Broadcasting Group Inc.

For more information as well as tickets for Karaoke World Championships Vancouver 2016, go to www.kwcvancouver2016.com.

For more information on Team Canada's men's competitor, Patrick Dang, go to this site.