After stumbling upon the existence of an international whistling contest during a casual TV viewing, graphic journalist Ben Shannon and his daughter Sumire joined the Masters of Musical Whistling mailing list on a whim. Initially taking it lightly as a low-stakes, fun activity to bond over during the pandemic, they soon found themselves preparing for the unexpected turn of events.
Both proficient whistlers, Ben and Sumire received a surprise when they made the cut after submitting audition tapes. The realization that the competition was to be held in person in Los Angeles dawned upon them, prompting them to undertake serious training under the guidance of Carole Anne Kaufman, known as the Whistling Diva.
Having practiced diligently for over a month, the duo found themselves at the 2023 Master of Musical Whistling competition in Hollywood. Surrounded by immensely talented contestants from around the globe, including standout performers like Etienne Devaux and Hikari Fukushima, Ben and Sumire embraced the challenge with newfound determination.
Stepping onto the stage, Sumire impressed with her rendition of the theme from Doraemon, securing a silver medal in the children’s category. Meanwhile, Ben delivered a winning performance of It’s Not a Moon, clinching the gold in the level one adults category. Despite his lingering sense of irony from his teenage years, the experience taught Ben the value of wholeheartedly committing to something, shedding light on the importance of embracing genuine passions without fear of judgment.