A 15-year-old teenager from Singapore, who has been playing guitar for only three years, has emerged as a top three in the search for the Young Guitarist of the Year 2018.

Alex Hooi was one of the hundreds of young guitarists from around the world who submitted entry videos for the chance to be crowned Young Guitarist of the Year 2018.

In August 2018, Hooi was named as one of the three finalists with this submission:

The finalists were chosen based on originality, technicality, musicality and feel of their guitar-playing.

A live show at the UK Guitar Show in London on Saturday, Sept. 29 was held for the dueling musicians to showcase their chops.

Performance at final

This was Hooi's charismatic performance with a Gibson Les Paul that night, an event sponsored by PRS, a guitar maker.

What did Hooi play?

Hooi's song was a rendition of a Chinese classic, 梁祝 (Liang Zhu).

The highly-recognisable tune is based on The Butterfly Lovers, a Chinese legend of a tragic love story of a pair of lovers, Liang Shanbo (梁山伯) and Zhu Yingtai (祝英台).

Their combined names form the title of the story. The title is often abbreviated to Liang Zhu (梁祝).

Take a listen at the following short clips as comparison:

Hooi's rendition:

Original:

Hooi said the tune he chose to perform has a good balance of energy and melody, and he wanted to do something a little soulful and melodic before rocking out, Jimmy Page-style.

Hooi's influences

Hooi only started playing guitar in June of 2015.

He started off with an Epiphone Les Paul Special and a copy of Rocksmith.

He names Slash as a major influence and tipping point in guitar-playing for him.

In a write-up on Music Radar, Hooi said he wants to be as powerful and as influential with his guitar as Slash.

He also describes playing the guitar as a confidence booster.

His current influences include players such as Andy Timmons, Guthrie Govan, Paul Gilbert, Synyster Gates, Randy Rhoads and Slash.

The post also wrote:

Alex feels very grateful for the music scene in Singapore, where he attends a lot of the regular jam sessions in local venues. He also thanks his supportive parents for nurturing him as a person, and as a musician.

Three finalists

Out of the three young finalists, Hooi was the oldest at 15 years old.

The other two were aged 13 and 14.

Hunter Hallberg, is 13, while Abigail Zachko, is 14.

The eventual winner was Hallberg.

Abigail Zachko, aged 14

Hunter Hallberg, aged 13

[related_story]