South African Stefan Benz got a golden ticket to Hollywood after his rendition of One Last Cry by Brian McKnight in front of Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan on the 21st season of American Idols.

The 16-year-old singer from Centurion in Pretoria moved to California in 2020 to follow his dreams, and it seems to be paying off.

Although Benz is square in the spotlight after his Idols performance, this is nothing new for the young performer.

At the age of 11, Benz represented South Africa at the World Performing Arts Championship, where he won the Junior Grand Champion Actor of the World award and the Junior Grand Champion Performer of the World Award.

Pretoria Rekord spoke to the South African Championship for Performing Arts (Sacopa) president Dr Ellen Roux, who has been, and still is, involved in Benz’s career.

Roux says she is very excited for Benz, predicting the rising talent would blow people away with his abilities. She says that she remembered how, even at the age of 11, he was able to make an impact.

In 2018, Benz was chosen for the World Championships, and Roux says that during rehearsals, it was clear he had something to show.

“I got the call that Harvey Mason Junior (a songwriter and producer for the likes of Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, and Chris Brown) wants to have an interview with him. I had to make the call; either I took him out of rehearsal for the finals, or I tell Harvey Mason Jr he cannot do the interview.”

Roux said that it was a difficult decision to make, choosing the championship over the interview, or vice versa, Benz could have the opportunity of a lifetime.

“If I take him out of rehearsals, he could lose the opportunity to win a Grand Champion Award; if I refuse that he sees Harvey, then he could lose an opportunity of a lifetime.

“So I phoned Patrick Hart, the producer of the Showcase Finals of the World Championships, and asked him to do me this favour. He said to me if I promise that he will be backstage by 18:30, he can go.”

Benz made it back with seconds to spare and was first on stage that night. He ended up not only sitting for an interview with the legendary producer, but also winning the Junior Grand Champion Actor of the World award as well as the Junior Grand Champion Performer of the World Award.

“The rest is history,” says Roux.