Julia Abueva about Julia Abueva Julia’s dream since she was 5 years old is to be a singer away at the keys of her lola’s piano – it therefore came not when she grows up. Julia’s not quite a grown up yet, but as a surprise that she composed her own song when she she is somehow already living her dream. Discovered at was 4 years old. the age of 7 by Singapore local singer Cat Ong, Julia’s first performance was as a guest performer in Cat Ong’s concert Julia’s repertoire includes a wide selection of jazz and big at the Esplanade Theaters By the Bay where she sang band songs, as well as Broadway and Disney songs. Among ‘Tomorrow’ from Annie, and ‘Where Is Love’ from Oliver. her favorites are ‘Tomorrow’ (performed at the Istana, At age 8, she was signed up by Kuo Po, Kids Performing Singapore for heads of state), ‘When You Wish Upon A Managing Director, to be one of the 8 original members Star’ (performed with Monique Wilson) and ‘When You of the Jazzkids, the first ever group of young children in Believe’ (performed at the UP 19th President Investiture Singapore (aged 8 to 14 years) to perform popular Jazz Rites). Her favorite Jazz and Big Band songs include ‘Route songs. Always unaffected and ‘only a little bit nervous’ 66’, ‘L-O-V-E’ and ‘New York, New York’ (performed at the before a performance, Julia’s focus is unwavering when Singapore Esplanade and Arts House). Julia also takes pride she’s on stage. She loves to sing for people and it shows in being able to perform tagalong songs for fellow Filipinos. in every performance which is why she has earned the She’s had the opportunity to sing Lea Salonga’s ‘Small Voice’ attention of artists and producers not only in Singapore, but (at the 107th Philippine Independence Day celebration in in the Philippines as well. At the tender age of 9, Julia has Singapore), and ‘Ako Ay Pilipino’ and ‘Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan’ to her credit almost 100 public performances both in the (at the ‘UP Naming Mahal: Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao’ Philippines and Singapore – singing both with the Jazzkids, concert), and is hoping to do more performances in the and as a solo performer. Philippines. Julia dreams of doing theater work someday, and was recently taken to play the role of Auster, the child As a solo performer, Julia has sung before Singapore heads fairy in ‘Peter Pan the Musical’ staged at the Esplanade in of state including Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, Prime October 2005. She prays that she can someday star in the Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President S.R. Nathan, and musical ‘Annie’, which she quotes as her ‘dream role’. When is a favorite in launching national events including the asked how she feels about her singing and what she has Singapore Arts Festival and Annual Singapore Quality achieved so far, Julia confidently shares ‘I just follow my Awards. She has also performed with Philippine artists like dreams and I always give my voice back to God’. Monique Wilson and Martin Nievera. It was in one of Julia’s performances in the Philippines that she was spotted by no Julia is currently a 4th grade student at the Singapore less than Ligaya Salonga (mom of world renowned artist Lea American School, an active member of the student council Salonga), who since then has become Julia’s talent manager. and plays soccer and basketball on Saturday mornings. Her Julia recently cut her first single, soon to be released with family moved to Singapore in 2001 when her mother, who a collection of songs from 8 celebrated Filipino artists in works for Procter & Gamble International was assigned a the United Nations Millennium Album. Although from regional role. She is the 3rd and youngest child of Jonas and a family of academes (Julia is the granddaughter of 2 UP Regina Abueva. On days when Julia is not preparing for a Presidents, Jose V. Abueva, and first woman UP President, performance, Julia enjoys spending time with her family, Emerlinda R. Roman), Julia was showing signs that she is including her brother Joshua and sister Jerone, and loves more artistically inclined at a very early age. At age 1, Julia playing with her beagle George. started singing in family gatherings (often volunteering when no one else wanted to perform), and enjoyed tapping www.nivenniven.com.