WCOPA 2014 Champion JULIA BANDA: On Pursuing her Passion in Singing and Conquering the Showbiz Industry
Entertainment Wednesday, June 07, 2017
19 year old Kristia Julia Marie G. Banda or better known as Julia Banda is determined to make her dreams come true in becoming the country's newest singing sensation. Her golden voice made her win in the 2014 WCOPA Competition (World Championship of Performing Arts). This is the prestigious competition where Jed Madela also won in the past. Julia won 4 Gold medal under Pop, Rock, Gospel and Open Music Category and 1 Silver under Broadway performance.
WCOPA is considered the "Talent Olympics" where 40 countries participate and compete in different performing art categories. This only proves how talented Julia is and she is determined to pursue her showbiz career by showcasing her amazing talent.
Mr. Kristo and Mrs. Marichelle Banda, Julia's Parents together with her siblings
Julia with the Tita's of Dasmarinas, her very supportive aunts
Julia Banda's beginnings can very well be featured in Magpakailanman because her story can touch everyone's hearts. She was born inside a taxi on their way to the hospital and both her parents were deaf-mute.
It was a challenged for her to communicate with her parents and also showcase her talent in singing since she started out young, at the age of 4 but she is truly blessed to have a supportive and loving parents who guided her a long the way in ways they know and we all know that parents will do anything just to give their children the best of everything.
In an interview with Julia with the Press and Bloggers, she said that even though her parents were deaf-mute, they make it a point that they're always present whenever she performs and would even watch her videos too. She knows that even if they can't hear her voice, in their hearts, she knows how proud they are for her. Not only her parents are very supportive of her but also her aunts (Titas of Dasmarinas) her Father's sisters were very suuportive of her too, in fact, they kept on pushing her to her limits, making her join singing competitions and eventually landing on WCOPA 2014.
Her experience of joining the prestigious singing competition made Julia hone her singing prowess more. It was indeed a memorable experience for her, battling with different countries and finally coveting the awards too.
Back then her favorite singer was Britney Spears and she would love singing Pop songs, right now, her favorite were KPOP stars and songs which is why she is studying Korean language so that she can understand it more and sing it perfectly as well, although she also gave us a sample of a Korean song that she knows. Her musical influencers were Jaya and Jonalyn Viray, both she wishes to have a duet someday or a collaboration someday. She have met Jona in the past but would love to sing with her on the stage once again.
Prior to this, Julia Banda also wanted to dedicate all her performances to her grandmother who recently passed away. She is also a big fan and supporter of Julia and after her death, the family discovered a handwritten letter of her Lola that was supposed to be send over to Jessica Soho's program via GMA Network "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho."
Check out the letter below:
The message:
“Saw your feature on the Cercado sisters. How nice of you to show support for our aspiring singers who make good here and abroad.
On the same note, can you also feature 18-year old KRISTIA JULIA MARIE G. BANDA, who came out the biggest winner for the Team Philippines in the 2014 WCOPA singing competition in Los Angeles, California, USA (Senior Division)? She garnered 4 individual gold medals, gold medal for group competition, 1 silver medal, an industry award, and 3 plaques with the inscription “Champion of the World” as over-all Division winner for 3 categories. As soon as she arrived in the Philippines, she received a huge plaque of recognition from the city mayor of Dasmarinas City, Cavite for her exemplary performance in the WCOPA, and was the featured Dasmarineno for the month of September 2014.
She was already interviewed in Channel 4, the People’s Television, when someone from the network saw her perform at the National Printing Office (NPO) anniversary, but what we wanted most for her is to be interviewed in our favorite multi-awarded news magazine show “Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho” in our “paste” channel “GMA7!”
We would greatly appreciate it if this suggestion and/or request will merit your kind consideration. Thank you very much!”
Her winning performance " Try it On My Own" is lovingly dedicated to her family who supports her no matter what. She knows that entering the showbiz industry will not be easy but with her determination, her powerful voice and passion for her craft, Julia Banda will surely go a long way.
Check out her powerful voice here:
You'll see more of Julia Banda in the coming days as she prepares for her upcoming shows, TV guestings and radio promotions and hopefully, her first ever album too.
