| Jonalyn Viray | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jonalyn Roxas Viray |
| Born | November 15, 1989 |
| Origin | San Mateo,Rizal, Philippines |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels | GMA Records |
Jonalyn Roxas Viray (born November 15, 1989[1] in Marikina City, Philippines[1]) is a Filipina singer and an occasional actress.[2] She was the first ever Pinoy Pop Superstar Grand Champion.[3] She also received five gold medals and three plaques at the 2006 World Championships of Performing Arts.[4]
She is a member of a trio named La Diva, along with Maricris Garcia and Aicelle Santos, in which she sings as a soprano. She is also a current cast member of the weekly variety show Party Pilipinas.
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Born on November 15, 1989,[5] Jonalyn is the eldest of 4 kids from Marikina.[5] She started joining singing contest on an early age.[6] She has won first runner-up in "Birit Bulilit" of IBC-13 as a child[6] and in "MTB Teen Pop Star"[6] wherein her winning piece was Mariah Carey’s Never Too Far.[6] Growing up, Jonalyn, much like any aspiring singer, admired Mariah Carey, Regine Velasquez, Whitney Houston, Kyla, and Beyoncé.[5][7]
Viray has been noted for her soulful voice, belting prowess, and stunning high notes ever since her first win in Pinoy Pop Superstar.[8] Viray is also noted for her ability to sing in the whistle register as influenced by Mariah Carey which she has been vocal about being a fan of.[9] Aside from pop music, though untrained, she has also been singing classical music and taking the roles of soprano and coloratura soprano, seen on her performance of Il dolce suono ,[10] Phantom of the Opera,[11] and a classical version of My Humps.[12] She has been vocal that her most admired singers and vocal influences are Mariah Carey and Regine Velasquez,[5] while Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson, and Beyoncé are also among the list.[5]
Viray's extensive vocal range extends from C#3(C# below middle C[9] and extends up to B6(3rd B after middle C).[9] She has also been noted for having an astounding upper chest range extending to Bb5(2nd Bb after middle C).[9]. Also, She hit an amazing B5 note ( half note lower to C in the 6th octave) in chest by singing the highest version of Don't stop Believing at Party Pilipinas, doing it upward hitting G5, A5 then the stunning B5.
She currently sings the soprano role in the trio La Diva with Aicelle Santos as alto and Maricris Garcia as Mezzo-Soprano.[5]
Viray, with Brenan Espartinez, went on to Hollywood, California on 2006 to join the World Championships of Performing Arts, where they both bagged awards. Viray got five gold medals and three plaques from that competition.[4]
| Award | Division | Category |
| Gold Medal [13] | Female Senior Vocal | Pop |
| Gold Medal [13] | Female Senior Vocal | Broadway |
| Gold Medal [13] | Female Senior Vocal | Original |
| Gold Medal [13] | Female Senior Vocal | R&B |
| Gold Medal [13] | Female Senior Vocal | Jazz & Variety |
| Championship Plaque [13] | Overall Female Vocal Solo | Broadway |
| Championship Plaque [13] | Overall Female Vocal Solo | Pop |
| Championship Plaque [13] | Overall Female Vocal Solo | Original |
| Award | Division | Category |
| Gold Medal [13] | Vocal Duet/Trio | Pop |
| Gold Medal [13] | Vocal Duet/Trio | R&B and Jazz |
| Championship Plaque [13] | Vocal Duet/Trio | Pop |
| Championship Plaque [13] | Vocal Duet/Trio | Gospel |
| Championship Plaque [13] | Vocal Duet/Trio | Broadway |
| Championship Plaque [13] | Vocal Duet/Trio | Industry Award |
Viray was 15 years of age back then when she competed at the singing competition Pinoy Pop Superstar held by the local television station GMA 7. She emerged as the weekly champion after singing a Whitney Houston hit song Run to You. She also sang Reflection, I Have Nothing and Never Too Far on the consecutive weeks, and after four consecutive weeks of being weekly champion, she then qualified to the grand finals.
On the grand finals, the eight grand contenders wore identical attires the men, in black suits with red shirts; and the women, in red gowns. They sang their own respective songs as the UP Concert Chorus, dressed in black, and carrying lighted white balloons, provided the background. MC Monterola and Jonalyn Viray had a back-to-back performance, MC singing "Through the Fire," and Jonalyn "It Might Be You." Kristel Astor sang "If You Dont Know Me By Now," Philbert de Torres did "Once There was a Love," Sheila Ferreri gave an impressive rendition of Eva Eugenios "Tukso," Charmaine Piamonte sang "I Believe," Brenan Espartinez sang "Home" and Michael Garcia, "If Youre Not the One."
From the eight were chosen the Top Four: Jonalyn Viray, Michael Garcia, Charmaine Piamonte and Brenan Espartinez. Michael was as cool, smooth and confident in singing "Shes Out of My Life," and Charmaine was equally at ease and cool in singing her song. Jonalyn was in her best elements as she sang "Run to You" by Whitney Houston. Brenan, was also confident and remarkable as he sang his song "Careless Whisper."
From the Top Four, Michael and Charmaine were eliminated to give way to the Top Two, Jonalyn and Brenan who then delivered their own versions of the Pinoy Pop Superstar theme song "The Miracle." Jonalyn then beat Espartinez and was declared the first ever grand champion of Pinoy Pop Superstar.
For winning the title of "Pinoy Pop Superstar", Jonalyn won 1 million pesos in cash and became the owner of a Futura Classic house and lot developed by Filinvest and a brand-new Toyota Innova. She also won an exclusive one-year contract with GMA Records, the recording arm of GMA Network, and received 100,000 pesos worth of Belo Medical services, plus gift certificates worth 50,000 pesos from Gandang Ricky Reyes.[21]
"Global Pinoy", Literally Meaning World-Class Filipino, by SM Supermalls, awarded Viray the Global Pinoy Award for bringing such a pride for the country when she bagged gold medals and plaque at the World Championships of Performing Arts at Hollywood, and for singing the Philippine National Anthem at Pacquiao-Cotto Fight at Las Vegas, Nevada. She is on that awardee list amongst world-famous broadway superstar Lea Salonga, prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde and Romi Garduce, one of the first Filipinos to reach the peak of Mount Everest.[22]
| Award Giving Body / Competition | Award |
| MTB Teen Star [13] | 1st Runner-Up |
| Birit Bulilit [13] | 1st Runner-Up |
| Pinoy Pop Superstar [13] | Grand Champion |
| SM Supermalls [13] | Global Pinoy Award |
| Awit Awards [13] | People’s Choice, Favorite Group Recording Artists |
| PMPC Star Awards for Music [13] | Best Group of the Year |
| PMPC Star Awards for Music [13] | Best Music Video of the Year- Kasiping Ka |
| PMPC Star Awards for Music [13] | Best Group Performance in a Concert |
In May 2008, it was confirmed that GMA Artist Center would be forming a female music trio called La Diva. With its “Three of a Kind” segment, the musical variety show gets ready to introduce a new generation of divas. Member Jonalyn Viray notes that a meeting for the creation of La Diva was held in January that year, with the stipulation that each member of the group would still keep their own identity, and their solo career. While the three ladies of La Diva are uncertain of how the group was formed, the combining factor is that each of them came from the singing competition, Pinoy Pop Superstar. Jonalyn Viray and Maricris Garcia were the Grand Champions of the first and third seasons respectively, and Aicelle Santos was the runner-up of the second season. She is currently performing regularly with the group at Party Pilipinas and had a self-titled album and concerts.
| Album | Record Label | Release Date | Record Status |
| Pinoy Pop Superstar: The Finalists [13] | GMA Records | 2005 | Certified Platinum Record |
| On My Own [13] | GMA Records | 2005 | Certified Gold Record |
| La Diva [13] | GMA Records | 2010 |
| Single | OST from | Album |
| Ay, Amor! [13] | Rosalinda | La Diva |
| Ikaw Ang Pag-Ibig [13] | Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang | La Diva |
| Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan[13] | Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan | La Diva |
| Maging Akin ka Lamang [13] | Maging Akin ka Lamang | None |
| Kung Mahawi Man Ang Ulap[13] | Mahawi Man ang Ulap | None |
| Ang Mundo Ko'y Ikaw[13] | Bakekang | None |
| Ikaw Nga[13] | Mulawin | None |
| Di na Mag-iisa[13] | Darna | None |
| Year | Title | Role | Station |
| 1996 | MTB Teen Star[13] | Herself-1st Runner Up | ABS-CBN |
| 1996 | Birit Bulilit[13] | Herself-1st Runner Up | IBC-13 |
| 2005–2008 | Pinoy Pop Superstar[13] | Herself-Champion | GMA |
| 2005–2010 | SOP Rules[13] | Herself | GMA |
| 2005 | My Guardian Abby[13] | Guest | QTV-11 |
| 2006 | I Luv NY[13] | Jenny de Castro | GMA |
| 2009 | SOP Fully Charged[13] | Herself | GMA |
| 2010–Present | Party Pilipinas[13] | Herself | GMA |
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