Jed Madela and Aria Clemente to perform in WCOPA

Jed Madela and Aria Clemente, the Philippines’ Grand Champion Performers of the World in the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) or “Hollywood Olympics,” will perform in the 2008 WCOPA opening ceremony at the Universal CityWalk, Hollywood on July 20, Sun., 9:30 a.m., and in the finals night at the Grand Ballroom of the Westin Bonaventure, downtown Los Angeles on July 25, Fri., 7 p.m.

Jed will sing “Go The Distance” from the Disney-animated film “Hercules” in the opening ceremony. Over 40 countries, including the Philippines, will be sending contestants to this year’s WCOPA.

Jed is also asked to sit as one of the judges during the preliminary (bronze, silver, gold, industry awards, etc. are special citations given in these rounds) and semifinal (selection of grand finalists) rounds of the weeklong competitions.

On finals night, Jed will sing “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” a track included in his Platinum album “Only Human.” He will welcome the new 2008 WCOPA Grand Champion Performers of the World by leading the song, “We are the Champions,” by The Queen. His version is re-arranged by Filipino composer and arranger Arnel de Pano especially for this event.

On the other hand, Aria will perform songs from her newly released album “Sing Like A World Champion Performer” in the opening and closing ceremonies. Her album, produced by STAGES and ABS CBN’s Star Records, will be available at the event.

Together with Jed and Aria in Hollywood are the members of 2008 WCOPA Team Philippines: Junior vocalists Catherine Loria, Cherry Palad, Glee Nette Gaddi, Rachel Razon, the Sison Brothers (Marek, Enzo, Ruiz), and Tippy dos Santos; and senior vocalists CJ Concepcion, Dex de Rosa, Abe Dorado, King, Marielle Corpuz, Panky Trinidad and Paolo Ledesma.

Carlo Orosa and Oliver Oliveros of STAGES have been working as directors of the WCOPA Team Philippines since last year.

This is the fourth time the Philippines will be sending a delegation of performers to compete in the “Hollywood Olympics.” Since the Philippines joined WCOPA, only four Filipino performers won the “Grand Champion Vocalist of the World” title: Jed Madela in 2005, The Cercado Sisters in 2006, Reymond Sajor and Aria Clemente in 2007. Jed and Aria also bagged WCOPA’s highest honors, the Senior and Junior Grand Champion Performer of the World titles, respectively.

2008 WCOPA Team Philippines has been getting support from The Office of the President, PAGCOR, Outland, The Philippine STAR, STAGES, Essensuals Toni & Guy, Karate Kid, Kiseki, Francis Libiran, and Teatrino.