Yet another half-Pinoy makes waves on 'Idol'

By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ

Jessica Sanchez singing her soulful rendition of Celine Dion’s ‘The Prayer’ on ‘American Idol’ (Screen grab from YouTube)

MANILA, Philippines – The latest season of “American Idol” will apparently be an interesting musical spectacle especially to Filipinos as another half-Pinoy contestant made it to the Top 24 cut of the hit show.

16-year-old Filipino-Mexican student Jessica Sanchez from Chula Vista, California  said after judges Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson, and Steven Tyler informed her of her “Idol” fate,   “This is the biggest thing that happened to me. I’ve been watching this show since I was little. And I made it. It’s crazy.”

A report from Entertainment Weekly dubbed Sanchez as one of the “early frontrunners for hairography, cuteness,” alongside 17-year-old Deandre Brackensick, who also has “big” hair. The two, along with their team mate Candice Glover, wowed the judges during the Las Vegas round for their performance of “Doesn’t Matter Anymore.”

Young as she is, Jessica, who joined "America's Got Talent" when she was 11 years old, said she has been singing all her life. She recalled in her “Road To Hollywood” interview that she was just about seven when she first performed for a crowd “for a little concert, a little event that someone had put together.”

Her “Idol” dream, however, began a little earlier. A fan since the show began in 2002 (she was just five then), Jessica’s favorite “Idol” moment was Kelly Clarkson’s glorious win in Season 1, singing her finale piece “A Moment Like This.”

But it’s Season 3 finalist Jennifer Hudson whom Jessica idolizes the most among all the “AI” contestants.

“I just love her voice… And I’ve gotten comments like ‘you sound like her,’ [and] that’s just a really big deal for me…” she said in the same interview.

More than a dream come true, Jessica sees her “Idol” stint as an opportunity to "fully" support her family, whom she’s tired of seeing “struggle.”

“My family has spent so much money on me. They’ve sacrificed so much time. My mom is unemployed because of my music career. Knowing there’s a possibility of me being able to help my family in this situation, that’s why I’m here, that’s why I’m working hard,” said she.

With R&B, urban, and soul leanings, Jessica believes that she stands out from the current “Idol” crop because of her “sense of style.”

“I think my tone is a lot different from others,” she added.

Asked why she thinks she’s the next “Idol,” Jessica said, “I believe I have something different and I’m just ready to go out there and show the world my whole talent. I’m ready to bring it and be on stage and perform in front of millions of people. I’m ready to record…” she enthused.

The previous season of “American Idol” saw promise in 17-year-old Filipino-American Thia Megia, who made it to the Top 12 of the competition. Other half-Filipino finalists in "Idol" history include Jasmine Trias, Ramiele Malubay, and Camille Velasco
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Avril Lavigne in Manila on Feb. 16

INQUIRER.net

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MANILA, Philippines – Good news to all Avril Lavigne fans, as the queen of pop-punk is coming over to bring her much-awaited The Black Star Tour in Manila on Feb. 16, 2012 LIVE at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Since Day One of her musical career, Avril has always chosen not to play it safe. When she entered the music scene at 17, the international superstar refused to resort to skin-baring come-ons, preferring to entice the record-buying public with her powerhouse voice, high-spirited melodies, and straight-talking lyrics. Staying steadfastly true to herself and putting music before image paid off both critically and commercially for the Canadian-born artist.

In 2002, Lavigne shot to global pop stardom with the 6x-platinum Let Go, followed by 2004’s 3x-platinum Under My Skin, and 2007’s platinum The Best Damn Thing. Over the course of her three albums, Lavigne scored a string of international hit singles, including “Complicated”, “Sk8er Boi”, “I’m With You”, “Losing Grip”, “Don’t Tell Me”, “My Happy Ending”,  “Nobody’s Home”, “Keep Holding On”, “Girlfriend”, “When You’re Gone”, “Hot” and “The Best Damn Thing”. She earned eight Grammy Award nominations, won seven Canadian Juno Awards, and sold more than 30 million albums and nearly 20 million tracks worldwide over the past eight years. The singer-songwriter’s songs have been used as soundtracks for such popular films like “Sweet Home Alabama”, “Bruce Almighty”, “Legally Blonde 2”, “The Princess Diaries” and “The House Bunny.”

Lavigne also launched a second career as an entrepreneur by creating a well-received fashion and lifestyle brand (Abbey Dawn), two fragrances (Black Star and Forbidden Rose), branched out into film work (Over the Hedge, Fast Food Nation), and further committed herself to the philanthropic activities she’s participated in over the years by establishing The Avril Lavigne Foundation.

With her multiple creative endeavors and impressive musical success, it’s worth pointing out that Avril Lavigne is all of 26. She may be young by veteran performer standards, but she has evolved as a person and as an artist since releasing The Best Damn Thing. Lavigne brings the maturity and insight she’s gained from her experiences to her next labor of love, her fourth and latest album, Goodbye Lullaby, which featured the chart-topping hits, “What The Hell”, “Smile” and “Wish You Were Here”.

Negrense conductor debuts at NY’s Carnegie Hall

By Lydia V. Solis
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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NOVÉ DEYPALAN, former student of Philippine music maestro Ryan Cayabyab, went on to get a Master of Music degree (magna cum laude) from the University of Southern California.

NEW YORK—Negros-born Nové Deypalan, alumnus of the University of the Philippines (UP) College ofMusic, made his conducting debut at storied Carnegie Hall in New York on Feb. 3 with the world premiere of “Dream of a Hundred Flowers.”

“I will be conducting for Saxophone Quartet (PRISM Quartet), percussions and four Chinese instruments by a terrific composer, (China-born) Fang Man,” he said in an interview.

“I am honored to premiere ‘Dream of a Hundred Flowers’ in one of the most prestigious venues in the world.”

Deypalan comes from Victorias City in the sugar-producing region of Negros Occidental. He played piano at an early age, but since they were poor, he said he volunteered to water the plants of his music teacher in exchange for giving him piano lessons. However, it was while watching his sister practice as a member of Victorias’ sugar mill choir when his interest in music started.

He studied at the UP College of Music where maestro Ryan Cayabyab, a former professor, became his mentor. As a student, Deypalan worked at the Cultural Center of the Philippines as a composer and conductor, and his compositions, “Kagat sa Mansanas” and “Florante at Laura,” are nationally recognized.

To further his music studies, Deypalan came to America 15 years ago, and completed his Bachelor of Music degree in conducting at the Chapman University, Orange, California. He graduated magna cum laude with a Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California.

Connecting with Fang Man

“Composer Fang Man and I met for the first time at the University of South Carolina in the beginning of Fall 2011,” narrated Deypalan. “She just joined the School of Music as a research assistant professor there. Mandy, as friends and colleagues call her, knew about my conducting style after she observed my recitals at the school. However, it was in Los Angeles, during our Christmas break while visiting LA, when she asked me to conduct a world premiere of her brand new music, ‘Dream of a Hundred Flowers.’

“At that time, I did not know much about her or her compositions, but she convinced me to listen to some of her music in her hotel in Westwood. My first reaction was ‘my gosh!’ I did not expect a powerful and captivating huge sound from a composer who has a very soft-spoken and humble demeanor and has a small built. Immediately, we connected.”

The PRISM Quartet is one of America’s foremost chamber ensembles, a two-time winner of the ChamberMusic America/

Ascap (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) Award for Adventurous Programming. PRISM has performed in Carnegie Hall’s Making Music series.

The New York Times has hailed Man as “inventive and breathtaking,” according to Deypalan. Her originalconcert music has been performed worldwide by notable orchestras and ensembles, such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, New Music Group under the baton of Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Music from China, just to name a few.

“Mandy’s choice of instrumentation—four saxophones and four Chinese instruments is about ‘West meets East,’” he said.

“The music is extremely difficult to conduct as each instrument tells a story and each has its own character.”

Doctor of musical arts

“I’m currently concluding work on the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in orchestral conducting at the University of South Carolina,” stated Deypalan, who is also a music teacher at the university. On March 16, 2011, he conducted Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 praised by the Columbia Free Times as “fearless … first-class music-making.” In January 2012, he joins the University of South Carolina in Aiken, SC, as an adjunct professor of music.

It is not Deypalan’s first appearance at Carnegie Hall, though. In 2005, he led his ensemble, the South Bay Women’s Chorus from Torrance, California, where he lives. He also performed at the Vatican in 2007 for Pope John Paul II.

“I was a chorus master and singer but not a conductor,” he clarified, “meaning, I prepared my chorus for two separate performances, for two different conductors.”

In June 2008, he conducted a world premiere of his original composition, “Libera Me,” for solo baritone, chorus and orchestra at Pasadena City College in Pasadena, California.

“I’m very grateful to my family and friends for their continued support and I’m indebted to my music and conducting teachers who inspired me to bring my insatiable desire and lifelong commitment of striving to make music at its finest and highest level of creativity.”

“As a Filipino American musician, I’m proud of my heritage and grateful for the rich culture of the Philippines,” he said.

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Lydia V. Solis is a freelance writer. She has retired from the City of Los Angeles after 31 years of service and was West Covina Senior Citizens commissioner from 2003 to 2007.