THE Philippines will be sending an all-vocalists team this year to the World Championships of Performing Arts in Hollywood, California.
Eight junior contestants (age 15 and below), and seven senior contestants (age 16 and above) will make up the Philippine team that will compete in the so-called Hollywood Olympics.
The competition will be held at the Universal CityWalk, Hollywood and Westin Bonaventure, Los Angeles on July 19 to 27.
Junior contestants are Catherine Loria, a singer from Lucena City, Cherry Palad, a Trumpets Playshop alumna, Glee Nette Gaddi, the Department of Tourisms delegate to the 2007 Korea Travel Fair in Seoul, Rachel Razon, a Fil Am pop and R&B vocalist, Marek, Enzo, and Ruiz Sison, musical theater actors seen in the local production of Off Broadway hit musical Childrens Letters to God, and Tippy dos Santos, Belle in Ateneo Childrens Theaters (ACT) production of Disneys Beauty and the Beast.
Senior contestants are CJ Concepcion, a singing nurse from Manila, Dex de Rosa, Thuy in the Australian production of Cameron Mackintoshs Miss Saigon, Abe Dorado, a Filipina singer based in Milan, Italy, King, a Star Records recording artist; Marielle Corpuz, a singer from Nueva Ecija, Panky Trinidad, a scholar in ABS CBNs Pinoy Dream Academy Season One; and Paolo Ledesma, 3rd Avenue bands lead vocalist.
These contestants were among around 75,000 performers (singers, dancers, models, actors, etc.) who auditioned globally for this years WCOPA.
WCOPA, now on its 12th year, is an international talent search run judged by powerful agents and producers working in the Hollywood and Broadway arena. It is made clear in the competitions that besides the entertainment X factor, the marketability of the artist is highly considered by the judges. Every year, it gathers contestants from over 40 countries.
Only four Filipino delegates won the Grand Champion Vocalist of the World title in the last three years: Jed Madela in 2005, The Cercado Sisters in 2006, Reymond Sajor and Aria Clemente in 2007.
This years WCOPA finals will be staged at the grand ballroom of the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles on Friday evening, July 25. Jed Madela and Aria Clemente are guest performers.
