HONG KONG — Rising Hong Kong singer Chantel Yiu, known mononymously as Chantel, delivered a deeply personal debut concert on Saturday at the Macpherson Stadium, performing despite a recent illness that left her voice slightly hoarse and required acupuncture treatment. The 19-year-old artist, backed by a troupe of young ballet dancers, thanked fans for their years of support, which she said gave her the courage to chase her dreams and finally claim a stage of her own.
“You may have noticed I’ve been sick, but I will give my all to make this concert a success,” Yiu told the audience, acknowledging her condition. The concert, titled “Chantel Yiu 想飛 Live Concert 2026,” marked a milestone for the singer, who first gained fame as a finalist on the TVB talent show Stars Academy in 2021.
The evening featured a star-studded lineup of guests. Music director Johnny Yim, whom Yiu considers a life mentor, accompanied her on piano. Pop star Mike Tsang joined her onstage for an English duet, with Yiu praising his vocal prowess and Tsang commending her ability to command the stage alone. Video messages of support came from actors Kalok Chow, Pal Sinn, and Edwin Siu, with Siu revealing he had once been Yiu’s neighbor in the same housing estate—and that she had written him a fan letter years before they later met at a television station.
Among the audience were entertainment industry figures including Lawrence Cheng, James Chan, Shiga Lin, JW Wong, Louie Castro, Virginia Lok, and fellow singers Chung Yau-mei, Marco Lam, Archie Sin, and Felix Cheung.
The most poignant moment came when Yiu broke down in tears while speaking about her family’s support. “My grandmother really wanted to come see my performance, but unfortunately she couldn’t be here tonight. I believe she can see me from heaven,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion.
Closing the show, Yiu walked into the audience to interact with fans and performed her final song, “Love Forecast,” before announcing her next concert scheduled for December 26 in Macau.
Yiu’s debut concert underscores the growing prominence of young Cantopop artists emerging from talent competitions, and her ability to connect personally with fans—despite health setbacks—signals a promising trajectory in Hong Kong’s evolving music scene.
