WORLD CLASS FILIPINO TALENT AT RECENT WCOPA

WORLD CLASS FILIPINO TALENT AT RECENT WCOPA

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA-Team Philippines has done it again at the grand finals of the 13^th World Championships of  Performing Arts (WCOPA) held at the Westin Bonaventure in downtown, Los Angeles. ABS-CBN’s original “Little Big Star” Brightest Star Rhap Salazar won the coveted titles Junior Grand Champion Solo Vocalist of the World, and the Junior Grand Champion Performer of the World.  The vocal quartet The Young Voices of Negros won the title Junior Grand Champion Group Vocalists of the World. 

12-year-old Rhap sang a one-minute version of Celine Dion’s “All By Myself” at the final show. 

“Hours before the finals, Rhap’s voice was getting tired due to extensive rehearsals for two straight days.  He did everything to conserve his voice.  Despite the odds, he gave a stellar performance worthy of the top prizes in the junior division.  The American judges were simply blown away by his soaring vocals,” said WCOPA Philippine National Director Carlo Orosa. 

The judges at the grand finals were composed of high profile agents, record and television producers, choreographers, and Disney theme park directors in California and New York. 

On the other hand, The Young Voices of Negros (Katrina, Kristina, Aissa and Kristopherson Madrigal) performed a highly polished rendition of “And I Am Telling You,” from the musical “Dreamgirls, in four-part harmony. 

Team Philippines’ junior vocalist Mayumi Morales, senior vocalists Martha Joy and CJ Concepcion also competed at the grand finals.   

Kimverle Molina of Saudi Arabia won the title Senior Grand Champion Vocalist of the World while Jo Robinson of Australia won the titles Senior Grand Champion Intrumentalist of the World, and the Senior Grand Champion Performer of the World.