The original singer of "Cheers to Friendship" is Zhang Dawei.
"Cheers to Friendship" was written by Yun Jian and composed by Qi Jianbo, and is included in the album "Cheers to Friendship". Zhang Dawei, a native of Kuandian Manchu Autonomous County, Dandong City, Liaoning Province, is a Manchu, a member of the Communist Party of China, a young baritone and solo actor in the Art Troupe of the Political Work Department of the Army Headquarters of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
Zhang Dawei was admitted to Shenyang Conservatory of Music in 2001 and studied under Professor Xu Zhaoren. Graduated in 2005 and studied under Luan Feng, a bass singer who traveled to Italy and received the Italian Order of Knights. In the same year, he won third place in the audition for the role of Don Giovanni in the opera "Don Giovanni" held in Verona, Italy. In 2006, he became the third generation lead singer of the "Long March Suite" and "The Surprising Soldiers Who Crossed Chishui Four Times". In 2011, he participated in the CCTV Spring Festival Gala and sang the finale song "Unforgettable Tonight".
Zhang Dawei’s early experience
Zhang Dawei was born in a small town called Kuandian in Dandong, the northeastern border of the motherland. He learned a variety of musical instruments since he was a child. When he was studying in Kuandian No. 3 Middle School, he entered the art school with a song "Kangding Love Song". After graduation, he was admitted to the vocal music department of Shenyang Conservatory of Music with the first place in the country. During his college years, Zhang Dawei was among the best in academic performance and was also the artistic backbone of the school troupe.
In 2004, he participated in the Shanghai International Opera Master Class held by vocal educator Zhou Xiaoyan. At the graduation concert, he took the stage at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music Concert Hall and sang the aria from the finale opera "The Marriage of Figaro". In the same year, Zhang Dawei participated in the 11th National Young Singer Grand Prix and won second place in the Liaoning Division.
In 2005, he participated in the opera role selection of "Don Giovanni" in Verona, Italy, and won third place (first place in the Chinese competition). After graduating in the same year, he gave up the opportunity to stay in school to teach and went to Beijing to develop his career.