America's Got Talent: Celine Tam moves into quarterfinals

IT IS BEGINNING to look like the Battle of the 9-Year Olds is inevitable.

In the second week of the semi-finals of America's Got Talent, another cute Asian/American 9-year old passed muster to advance to the quarterfinals. After perfomring Tuesday night, viewers' choices were announced last night (Aug. 22)

Celine Tam joined fellow Asian/American 9-year old Angelica Hale in the live-show quarterfinals setting up the possibility that the two would face off against each other. I'd hate to be the judge if that happens. Both are cute and both have srong voices beyond their tender years.

Celine was named after her idol Celine Dion, her parents' favorite singer. Her younger sister is named Dion.

Indonesian/American escape artist Damian Aditya had technical difficulties in his act and that threw him off his game enough that the judges didn't give him a pass. His act is so amazing and frightening though, I would notn be surprised to see him in Las Vegas soon.

The dance crew Brobots & Mandroidz, which has Asian/American members, didn't make the cut, the second dance American dance crew to be dropped. It looks like the judges are leaning towards to the Russian dance crew but that remains to be seen in a future show.
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Angelica Hale hits the high note in America's Got Talent..

Angelica Hale

A LITTLE GIRL, dressed in red and looking like she just came from a birthday party, emerged from a swirl of stars began softly as she sang a cover of "Clarity." Her voice continued to grow as Angelica Hale hit some unbelievably high notes, including "The High Note" that wowed the judges.

By the time 9-year old Angelica had completed her song, the four judges gave her a standing ovation and one judge, Mel B., was in tears.

Her performance was good enough for her to move her into the semi-finals. When it came time for her to face the judges with favorite Darcy Lynn Farmer, it didn't look good but the judges gave both singers a thumbs up.

The Korean hip-hop dance crew had a harder time. The dancers were in the sixth, seventh and eighth spots. That meant the TV audience had the opportunity to vote for one of the acts during the live show. 

Since it was a live show, only the east coast viewers had the opportunity to vote, leaving the west coast, where more Asian/Americans lived, no chance to influence the vote. By the end of show, it was announced that the Koreans were out of the running for that last spot heading to the semifinals.

Watch Angelica's amazing performance below:

Angelica was one of seven acts to advance. Besides Farmer, the other semi-finalists will be In the Stairwell, Preacher Lawson, Billy and Emily England, Christian Guardino and Yoli Mayor.

Next Tuesday, the second live show will help determine a new group of semi-finalists, including the other 9-year old Asian/American singer Celine Tam and the dance crew Brobots and Mandroidz, which features three AAPI dancers.
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