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GEORGE NEWS AND VIDEO - The eleven-year-old vocalist Liam Hufke captured many hearts when a video of his performance of "Please Stay" by Cape Town singer Jonathan Butler went viral on Curro George's social media pages earlier this month.
Within days, the clip, shared by Principal Jennifer Alexander, had drawn more than 1 000 comments and over 3 000 likes and shares.
Liam's mother, Clarise, says the biggest surprise was when Butler himself reposted the video on Instagram with a direct message, saying the young singer reminded him of how he had sounded at 13.
The performance took place during a lunchtime concert at Curro George, designed to give learners experience on stage ahead of the school's big concert at the George Arts Theatre later this month.
Liam's love of music began when he was just two. He admires Celine Dion's voice and once performed "The Power of Love" for his music teacher, Renaldo Hendriks. "I knew he had a good voice, but I wasn't expecting this," Hendriks recalls.
Clarise and her husband, Vivian, are karaoke enthusiasts who inspired his passion. "Liam likes old-school songs," says Vivian.
VIDEO - The clip that won the praise of musician Jonathan Butler
Liam Hufke (11) and his music teacher, Renaldo Hendriks, at Curro George during a recording of a birthday song for Curro's CEO, Cobus Loubser.
Although shy off stage, Liam comes alive when he sings.
He practices daily, often re-enacting songs from YouTube. He recently performed Butler's hit for his grandmother, Anne Meyer, on her 67th birthday, and recorded a birthday song for Curro's CEO, Cobus Loubser, at school this week.
Apart from music, Liam enjoys casual play with his friends, especially soccer. His favourite subject at school is natural sciences and technology, where he is currently learning about the different sources of energy.
When he sings, Liam sounds like a powerful source of energy himself.
Liam will be interviewed live on Eden FM by presenter Charissa Botha on Mall2All at 11:15 this Saturday, 20 September. He was also invited to perform at The Love Concert in the Mossel Bay Town Hall on 18 October.
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