SHAH ALAM: A familiar face in live showcases for a decade, Elvira Arul, has joined the ranks of proteges in TV3’s latest reality show Mentor Otai.
The 39-year-old is one of two proteges of popular singer Misha Omar, alongside 40-year-old Wan Azran Hamzah of Kota Baru.
Elvira is a regular at popular Kuala Lumpur nightspots No Black Tie, Alexis Bistro and Bobo KL.
Besides singing, she has starred in the 2011 musical Dreamgirls at Istana Budaya, playing protagonist Effie White.
She has also been in the two seasons of Mentor Milenia (2016 and 2017) as the vocal instructor of Hazama Azmi's proteges, besides assisting Akademi Fantasia Megastar finalist Marsha Londoh last year.
Another notable contestant in the show is Alina Hassan, 50, a veteran singer from talent search Sinaran Pasport Kegemilangan 1996.
A former Melaka Historic City Council band member, Alor Gajah-born Alina has three decades' experience and four albums under her belt.
She is one of two proteges of popular singer Siti Sarah Raisuddin, the other being Sairi Osman, 36, of Rompin, Pahang.
A total of eight proteges have been picked by the six-week contest's four participating mentors, Misha, Siti Sarah, Zarul Husin of Umbrella and Tam of Spider.
Zarul's proteges are Aznie Ariffin, 41, of Sungai Petani, Kedah and Lokman Azmi, 36, of Lenggong, Perak, while Tam's proteges are Irwan Ahmad, 35, of Pangkor, Perak and Azril Azmi, 42, of Rembau, Negri Sembilan.
The proteges were unveiled by their mentors at a recorded telecast in Seri Pentas 2, Plaza Alam Sentral here last Feb 28, and it was screened on TV3 at 9pm last night.
They were chosen from 12 final protege hopefuls, three for each mentor.
The protege hopefuls who did not get selected were Fauzi Musa (Misha), Zanie Mat Zain (Siti Sarah), Fathiz Yunus (Zarul) and Redzuan Nasaruddin (Tam).
All of them have 10 to 30 years' singing experience with various bands, and are among 1,500 who turned up at auditions held on Jan 27 and 28; and Feb 3 and 4 at Royale Chulan Damansara Hotel in Mutiara Damansara.
Mentor Otai will be broadcast live from Seri Pentas 2 beginning March 25 every Sunday at 9pm on TV3.
It is a spin-off of Mentor which ran for six seasons from 2005 to 2012, and caters to singers aged 30 and above.
Mentor Otai is co-hosted by singer-actress Elly Mazlein and Haziq Hussni of Hot FM. Singer Mark Adam and composer Edry Abdul Halim are the permanent judges.
Marks awarded to the proteges are 50 per cent from the judges, 20 per cent from the public jury comprising musicians and educationists, and 30 per cent from viewers’ online votes at www.xtra.com.my/mentorotai.
Every week one contestant who gets the lowest marks leaves the show.
The top three winners get RM100,000, RM50,000 and RM20,000.
The show is repeated at 9.30am every Friday on TV3, while Jurnal Mentor which highlights the proteges’ preparations is at 6pm on Sundays.