Jonalyn Viray

Jonalyn Viray

Viray singing at Music Museum during her "Fearless" concert, wearing a Nat Manilag haute couture gown
Background information
Birth name Jonalyn Roxas Viray
Also known as The Philippines' "Soul Princess"
Born November 15, 1989[1]
Origin San Mateo, Rizal, Philippines[1]
Genres Pop ballad, R&B, soul.
Occupation(s) Singer, Actress
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 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. She is also a cast of the Sunday variety show Sunday All Stars. Her single 'Help Me Get Over' named as the 'Song of the Year' at the 6th PMPC Star Awards for Music.[5]

Early life

Viray outside Max's Restaurant

Born on November 15, 1989,[6] Jonalyn is the eldest of 4 kids from Pio Duran.[6] She started joining singing contests on an early age.[7] She has won first runner-up in "Birit Bulilit" of IBC-13 as a child[7] and in "MTB Teen Pop Star"[7] wherein her winning piece was Mariah Carey’s Never Too Far.[7] Growing up, Jonalyn, much like any aspiring singer, and actress admired Mariah Carey, Regine Velasquez, Whitney Houston, Kyla, and Beyoncé.[6][8] Viray cites Kyla as another idol saying she "inspired [her] to get up there and do what [she] did."

Education

She studied at Valeriano E. Fugoso Memorial School then finished her secondary education at Jose P. Laurel Sr. High School. She then took Bachelor of Music from the Conservatory of Music of the 400-year old Spanish-built University of Santo Tomas, majoring in Classical Voice with minor in piano.

Voice

Viray singing at Greenhills Center

Aside from pop music, Viray has also been singing classical music, adding operatic verses to pop songs and singing some opera arias, taking the roles for soprano (for which she performed Nightwish's version of The Phantom of the Opera (song)), and coloratura soprano roles, best seen on her performance of Il dolce suono the incipit of the recitativo of a “scena ed aria” taken from Act III scene 2, Lucia di Lammermoor by Gaetano Donizetti, which is basically a role for a Dramatic Coloratura Soprano.

She has been vocal that her most admired singers and vocal influences are Mariah Carey and Regine Velasquez,[6] while Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson, and Beyoncé are also among the list.[6]

Achievements

Award Giving Body / Competition Award
MTB Teen Star [9] 1st Runner-Up
Birit Bulilit [9] 1st Runner-Up
Pinoy Pop Superstar [9] Grand Champion
SM Supermalls [9] Global Pinoy Award
Awit Awards [9] People’s Choice, Favorite Group Recording Artists
PMPC Star Awards for Music [9] Best Group of the Year
PMPC Star Awards for Music [9] Best Music Video of the Year- Kasiping Ka
PMPC Star Awards for Music [9] Best Group Performance in a Concert
Aliw Awards [9] Best Performer

World Championships of Performing Arts

Viray, with Brenan Espartinez, went on to Hollywood, California on 2006 to join the World Championships of Performing Arts, where they both won awards. Viray got five gold medals and three plaque from that competition.[4]

Solo Awards

Award Division Category
Gold Medal [9] Female Senior Vocal Pop
Gold Medal [9] Female Senior Vocal Broadway
Gold Medal [9] Female Senior Vocal Original
Gold Medal [9] Female Senior Vocal R&B
Gold Medal [9] Female Senior Vocal Jazz & Variety
Championship Plaque [9] Overall Female Vocal Solo Broadway
Championship Plaque [9] Overall Female Vocal Solo Pop
Championship Plaque [9] Overall Female Vocal Solo Original

Group Awards with Brenan Espartinez

Award Division Category
Gold Medal [9] Vocal Duet/Trio Pop
Gold Medal [9] Vocal Duet/Trio R&B and Jazz
Championship Plaque [9] Vocal Duet/Trio Pop
Championship Plaque [9] Vocal Duet/Trio Gospel
Championship Plaque [9] Vocal Duet/Trio Broadway
Championship Plaque [9] Vocal Duet/Trio Industry Award

Pinoy Pop Superstar

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.[10]

Global Pinoy

"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 won 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.[11]

La Diva

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.


Discography

Studio albums

Title Label Released Certification
Pinoy Pop Superstar: The Finalists [9] GMA Records 2005 Certified Platinum Record
On My Own [9] GMA Records 2005 Certified Gold Record
La Diva [9] GMA Records 2010
Jonalyn VirayCreative Media Entertainment2013

Singles

Title Original soundtrack of Album
Ay, Amor! [9] Rosalinda La Diva
Ikaw Ang Pag-Ibig [9] Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang La Diva
Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan[9] Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan La Diva
Maging Akin ka Lamang [9] Maging Akin ka Lamang None
Kung Mahawi Man Ang Ulap[9] Mahawi Man ang Ulap None
Ang Mundo Ko'y Ikaw[9] Bakekang None
Ikaw Nga[9] Mulawin None
Di na Mag-iisa[9] Darna None
Help Me Get Over[9] My Husband's Lover Jonalyn Viray
Sa Piling Mo[9] Lola Jonalyn Viray
Nakita Kang Muli Padam Padam Jonalyn Viray
Tanging Ika'y Mamahalin Innamorata None
Kailan Ba Tama ang Mali? Kailan Ba Tama ang Mali? None

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Network
1996 MTB Teen Star[9] Herself-1st Runner Up ABS-CBN
1996 Birit Bulilit[9] Herself-1st Runner Up IBC-13
2005–2008 Pinoy Pop Superstar[9] Herself-Champion GMA
2005–2010 SOP Rules[9] Herself GMA
2005 My Guardian Abby[9] Guest QTV-11
2006 I Luv NY[9] Jenny de Castro GMA
2009 SOP Fully Charged[9] Herself GMA
2010–2013 Party Pilipinas Herself GMA
2012 My Daddy Dearest[9] Guest Singer GMA
2013–presentSunday All StarsHerself/Performer GMA Network
2013Walang Tulugan with the Master ShowmanGuestGMA
2013 Kahit Nasaan Ka Man Herself GMA
2014 Cattleya Herself GMA

Other TV Appearances

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2013 1st Sunday All Stars Awards Stand Out Season Performer None Nominated
Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2014 6th PMPC Star Awards for Music Song of the Year Help Me Get Over Won

References

External links