Julia Abueva

Julia Abueva "I Believe"

2008-12-09T03:02:00.001+08:00

Catch Julia Abueva in her solo concert "I Believe"

DATE 9 DEC 2008, TUE
TIME 3pm & 8pm(90mins, no intermission)
VENUE Theatre Studio
PRICE Adults: $30
Concessions: Limited concessions for Great Eastern staff and members only**
Ticket: $24 (till 31 Oct 08, Fri), $27 (from Nov 08)
** Concessions only available for counter purchases made at Esplanade Box Office and SISTIC’s authorised agents.
** Official proof of identification required.

Julia in the News

2008-12-09T02:57:00.002+08:00

Voice of an angel
Twelve-year-old Julia Abueva, whose video was shown on The Oprah Winfrey Show, will perform at ChildAid concert
By Tara Tan

'I was so nervous when I got on stage that I could not stop looking at my mum'

Julia Abueva, on her first concert at the age of seven. She will be performing in the ChildAid concert next month

At her grandfather's 70th birthday, 1 1/2-year-old Julia Abueva grabbed the microphone and, to the surprise of the guests, belted out the song Tomorrow from the musical Annie.
Today, the 12-year-old star crooner has graced much bigger stages.

From the opening ceremony of the South-east Asian Games in 2005 to the Cultural Arts Centre opening in Suzhou, China, last year, she has gone on to appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show in an episode on The World's Most Talented Kids. It aired in the United States last Monday.

Audiences here can watch the Manila-born Singaporean in action when she performs at the ChildAid concert at the University Cultural Centre on Dec 2 and 3.

The annual charity concert, now in its fourth year, raises money for The Business Times Budding Artists Fund and The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund.

Dressed casually in jeans and with her rebonded hair held back with a thick white hairband, Abueva told Life! she had always dreamt of becoming a performer.

'I sang my first song when I was a year old and started playing the piano at three,' said the perky student at the Singapore American School.

Described by the media as having the voice of an angel, the metso soprano has no formal vocal training.

She was talent-spotted at six by local singer Cat Ong, a family friend.

At Ong's concert at the Esplanade a year later, Abueva was noticed by Kuo Po, artistic director of local children's performing group Jazz Kids. Things snowballed from then, and Abueva started getting more solo gigs and shows.

But she still vividly recalls her first public performance as a seven-year-old.

'It was at the Esplanade, and I was so nervous when I got on stage that I could not stop looking at my mum. I sang looking straight at her for the whole song.'

These days, her mother Regina, who is a regional brand manager in her 30s, is often the more nervous of the two.

'I used to get so worried. I am always standing in the wings watching her,' she says with a chuckle. The Singaporean is married to Filipino event organiser Jonas Abueva. The couple moved here from Manila in 2000.

They also have a 17-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter.

Abueva is at that curious age where she flits between being mummy's girl and a precocious young lass.

As many children do, she pushes her half-finished milkshake to her mother, who laughingly shakes her head at her.

'I can't finish it, mum, please,' she pouts, then talks about having to choose between school and career.

'I had to turn down doing a musical this year in the Philippines because it would have clashed with the first few weeks of school. Then it will take so much work to catch up,' she says ruefully.

Even though she visits Manila only once a year, she was awarded the Best Child Performer in the 2007 Aliw awards in the Philippines. The annual ceremony recognises talents in local showbusiness.

More recently, she was catapulted to worldwide fame when she appeared on the popular Oprah show as part of a video segment on talented children.

Out of thousands of tapes of performing children sent in by proud parents, Oprah picked hers to screen.

'It means so much to me, it is unbelievable that Oprah knows I exist. I am crossing my fingers, I hope I will be invited to guest on the show,' said Abueva, hugging herself in excitement.

But beyond these brushes with fame, she claims to live a normal teenage girl's life.

Her idols range from musical singer Lea Salonga to Nicole Scherzinger from girl band Pussycat Dolls. Her current dream role is Gabriella of High School Musical. Latest fiction crush? Edward Cullen from vampire teen novel series, Twilight.

Then you remember. She is 12 years old and is having her first ever solo concert next month, and is appearing in a local musical Sleepless Town in January.

'One of the songs I'm going to sing is When I Grow Up by the Pussycat Dolls,' she says with a smile.

The song's lyrics go: 'When I grow up, I wanna be famous, I wanna be a star.'

Abueva does not have to wait till then.

Julia sings MAMA at the Esplanade during Mothers' Day 2006

2008-11-03T05:12:00.000+08:00

Julia Performs at Sea Game

2008-11-03T04:58:00.000+08:00

Probe Feature on Julia Abueva 2005 Philippines/Part 1

2007-05-10T22:00:00.000+08:00

Probe Feature on Julia Abueva 2005 Philippines/Part 2

2007-05-10T21:59:00.000+08:00

Julia Performs at School Variety Show 2007

2007-03-08T00:40:00.000+08:00

Julia Roman Abueva guests at Lea Salonga Concert

2006-10-19T12:32:00.000+08:00

Julia Roman Abueva guests at Lea Salonga Concert, Cebu 2005

Julia Abueva and Martin Nievera

2006-08-12T00:22:00.000+08:00

Julia at 9 yrs. Singing duet "Give The World A Chance" during Martin Nievera's concert in Singapore in July 2005.

Children's Letters To God

2006-06-17T03:02:00.000+08:00

Catch Julia Abueva in this production of "Children's Letters To God"

Promotional Video: Julia Abueva

2006-06-11T02:46:00.000+08:00

Photos from Mother's Day Event @ Esplanade II

2006-05-08T02:48:00.000+08:00

Taken with sister Jerone and Mom

Julia's Latest Photo

2006-05-08T02:44:00.000+08:00

Taken on 7th May 2006. Inside the dressing room of Esplanade Theatre At the Bay

Julia and Mom

2006-05-08T02:41:00.000+08:00

Fun and joy to sing together for Mother's Day.

Photos from Mother's Day Event @ Esplanade

2006-05-08T02:33:00.000+08:00

Julia on the rehearsal for Mother's Day

Coming Projects

2006-04-15T23:34:00.000+08:00

Aspect of Love
27th April 2006 - 6th May 2006

Mother's Day Concert (Esplanade Outdoor)
7th May 2006 (Time: 7:30pm - 8:15pm)

Please come and watch Julia.

Millennium Campaign: BATA PA AKO

2006-02-14T15:55:00.000+08:00

Manila, October 31st 2005 - The UN in the Philippines has released an MDG album, with 9 tracks dedicated to the Millennium Goals.

The album is entitled 'Tayo Tayo Rin Sa 2015 - Sing the Songs. Find your Voice. Change the World. It's your Choice'.

27 Filipino artists, including Julia Abueva, Papa Dom of Tropical Depression, Christian Bautista and Spy Band, performed the songs for free.

Listen to BATA PA AKO *This will be played in Window Media Player or Winamp

Lyrics:

Di ka ba nagtataka
Ako'y nasa lansangan
At ikaw ay nasa sasakyan
Papuntang paaralan

Makatapos kaya ako
Kahit mga libro'y pinaglumaan mo
Pangarap lang ba
Pagka't mahirap lang ako

PRE-CHORUS:
Pwede bang sumali sa inyong laro
Kahit kunwa-kunwaring nag-aaral din ako

CHORUS:
Dala ba ng tadhana na tayo'y magkaiba
Sana balang araw maging tulad din kita
Paano bang sumulat, magbasa ng gaya mo
Bata alam mo ba, na bata rin ako?

Musmos pa rin ako,
Di lang napapansin
Magulang at kapatid,
Nakaasa sa akin

Bata sino ba
Ang nagtuturo't gumagabay sa'yo
May pag-asa pa bang
Maturuan din nya ako

REPEAT PRE-CHORUS, CHORUS

BRIDGE:
Sa lahat ng inaasam
Isa ang pinakagusto
Na sana'y pagtanda natin
Wala ng batang tulad ko

Aspect of Love [Singapore]

2006-02-11T12:26:00.000+08:00

Aspect of Love will be playing in Singapore from 27th April to the 6th May 2006. Julia will be performing in "Aspect of Love" in one of the role that she has also performed in the philippines in 2005.

More press information will be available later.

Photo Gallery: SEA GAME

2006-02-11T02:48:00.000+08:00

Opening of SEA GAME

2006-02-11T02:36:00.000+08:00

We're All Just One

Welcome all to our country
See it in all its beauty
And meet our friendly people
And enjoy
Southeast Asia's
Where we're from
Brothers we are
We're all just one
We have come
From near and far
We're here to play
For brothers we are
On your mark get set
Now ready steady go
Run, run like the wind
And fly as swiftly as a sparrow
Hark the whistle
Hear it call
Fight like a tiger
Give it your all
Love and peace
And brotherhood
United as one
We'll show the world
Give it all you've got
We'll play it fair and square
Fight with all your might
For victory is ours to share
Southeast Asia's
Where we're from
Brothers we are
We're all just one
We have come
From near and far
We're here to play
For brothers we are
So welcome all to our country
See it in all its beauty
And meet our friendly people
And enjoy, enjoy
Southeast Asia's
Where we're from
Brothers we are
We're all just one
From near and far
We're here to play
For brothers we are
Brothers we are
We?re all just one
Brothers we are
We're all just one

Nine-year old singing sensation Julia Abueva performs the song "We're All Just One" backed up by the San Miguel Philharmonic orchestra conducted by music maestro Ryan Cayabyab and the San Miguel Master Choral. Abueva is the granddaughter of National Artist Napoleon Abueva.

Biography: Julia Roman Abueva

2006-02-11T01:57:00.000+08:00

JULIA ROMAN ABUEVA ….A LITTLE GIRL WITH A BIG VOICE

Julia’s dream since she was 5 years old is to be a singer when she grows up. Julia’s not quite a grown up yet, but she is somehow already living her dream. Discovered at the age of 7 by Singapore local singer Cat Ong, Julia’s first performance was as a guest performer in Cat Ong’s concert at the Esplanade Theaters By the Bay where she sang ‘Tomorrow’ from Annie, and ‘Where Is Love’ from Oliver. At age 8, she was signed up by Kuo Po, Kids Performing Managing Director, to be one of the 8 original members of the Jazzkids, the first ever group of young children in Singapore (aged 8 to 14 years) to perform popular Jazz songs.

Always unaffected and ‘only a little bit nervous’ before a performance, Julia’s focus is unwavering when she’s on stage. She loves to sing for people and it shows in every performance which is why she has earned the attention of artists and producers not only in Singapore, but in the Philippines as well. At the tender age of 9, Julia has to her credit almost 100 public performances both in the Philippines and Singapore – singing both with the Jazzkids, and as a solo performer. As a solo performer, Julia has sung before Singapore heads of state including Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President S.R. Nathan, and is a favorite in launching national events including the Singapore Arts Festival and Annual Singapore Quality Awards. She has also performed with Philippine artists like Monique Wilson and Martin Nievera. It was in one of Julia’s performances in the Philippines that she was spotted by no less than Ligaya Salonga (mom of world renowned artist Lea Salonga), who since then has become Julia’s talent manager. Julia recently cut her first single, soon to be released with a collection of songs from 8 celebrated Filipino artists in the United Nations Millennium Album.

Although from a family of academes (Julia is the granddaughter of 2 UP Presidents, Jose V. Abueva, and first woman UP President, Emerlinda R. Roman), Julia was showing signs that she is more artistically inclined at a very early age. At age 1, Julia started singing in family gatherings (often volunteering when no one else wanted to perform), and enjoyed tapping away at the keys of her lola’s piano – it therefore came not as a surprise that she composed her own song when she was 4 years old.

Julia’s repertoire includes a wide selection of jazz and big band songs, as well as Broadway and Disney songs. Among her favorites are ‘Tomorrow’ (performed at the Istana, Singapore for heads of state), ‘When You Wish Upon A Star’ (performed with Monique Wilson) and ‘When You Believe’ (performed at the UP 19th President Investiture Rites). Her favorite Jazz and Big Band songs include ‘Route 66’, ‘L-O-V-E’ and ‘New York, New York’ (performed at the Singapore Esplanade and Arts House). Julia also takes pride in being able to perform tagalong songs for fellow Filipinos. She’s had the opportunity to sing Lea Salonga’s ‘Small Voice’ (at the 107th Philippine Independence Day celebration in Singapore), and ‘Ako Ay Pilipino’ and ‘Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan’ (at the ‘UP Naming Mahal: Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao’ concert), and is hoping to do more performances in the Philippines.

Julia dreams of doing theater work someday, and was recently taken to play the role of Auster, the child fairy in ‘Peter Pan the Musical’ staged at the Esplanade in October 2005. She prays that she can someday star in the musical ‘Annie’, which she quotes as her ‘dream role’.

When asked how she feels about her singing and what she has achieved so far, Julia confidently shares ‘I just follow my dreams and I always give my voice back to God’.

Julia is currently a 4th grade student at the Singapore American School, an active member of the student council and plays soccer and basketball on Saturday mornings. Her family moved to Singapore in 2001 when her mother, who works for Procter & Gamble International was assigned a regional role. She is the 3rd and youngest child of Jonas and Regina Abueva. On days when Julia is not preparing for a performance, Julia enjoys spending time with her family, including her brother Joshua and sister Jerone, and loves playing with her beagle George.

Other Info
Full Name: Julia Roman-Abueva
Birthdate: 26 November 1995
Birthplace: Manila, Philippines
Height: 4 feet 8 inches
Weight: 35 kg
Eye Color: Brown
Hair: Black
Hobbies: Singing, Playing Piano, Arts and Crafts
Sports: Swimming, Soccer, Basketball,
Race: Filipino
School/ Level: Singapore American School, 4th grade
Favorite Food: Cheese Pizza, Japanese Crackers
Hobbies: Playing the piano, making friendship bracelets, SINGING!
Favorite TV show: That’s So Raven, Lizzie Maguire
Favorite Musical: Annie, Les Miserables

##TITLE##

1970-01-01T07:30:00.000+07:30

##CONTENT##