Zhong Chenle, known professionally by the mononym Chenle, is a Chinese singer, songwriter, and actor currently based in Seoul, 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 Golden Hall of Vienna with a solo performance. 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.
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.
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. 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, Zhong led the audience of thousands to sing the national anthem. 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. 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 InternationalChildren'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. Zhong began his professional career as a singer after competing in singing competitions such as China's Got Talent. He has released 3 albums. He used to do cover songs and upload them to YouTube. Many of his covers are of former child star Declan Galbraith. 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.
2016–present: Debut with NCT
In August 2016, he started doing activities in South Korea by debuting as a member of the sub-unit NCT Dream, a rotational unit of NCT consisting of teenage members. He is one of the two members in the entire group alongside Renjun who was not introduced as a part of SM Rookies before the group's debut. He debuted in NCT after only 4 months of training. 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.
