Gerphil Flores
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Gerphil Flores
| image = Gerphil_Flores_the_Lady_in_Red.jpg
| birth_name = Gerphil Geraldine Flores
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1990|09|29}}
| birth_place = Hamburg, Germany
| origin = Germany
| genre = Classical crossover, classical
| instrument = Vocals (soprano)
| years_active = 2001–present | associated_acts = David Foster
}}
Gerphil Geraldine Flores{{cite news|last1=Tomada|first1=Nathalie|title=Gerphil: No hard feelings towards Kris, Ai-Ai|url=http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2015/05/25/1458280/gerphil-no-hard-feelings-towards-kris-ai-ai|access-date=10 January 2016|work=The Philippine Star|date=25 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811145214/http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2015/05/25/1458280/gerphil-no-hard-feelings-towards-kris-ai-ai|archive-date=11 August 2017|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last1=del Valle|first1=Precious|title=Gerphil Flores on solo show, critics, and Kris Aquino|url=http://www.rappler.com/entertainment/news/115784-gerphil-flores-david-foster-kris-aquino-jack-jones-concert|access-date=10 January 2016|work=Rappler|date=13 December 2015}} is a German-Filipino classical crossover singer. In 2015, she joined the inaugural season of Asia's Got Talent, where she finished as second runner-up. A soprano,{{cite news|last1=Sanchez |first1=Giselle |title=Things you may not know about Gerphil |url=http://www.mb.com.ph/things-you-may-not-know-about-gerphil/ |access-date=21 February 2016 |work=Manila Bulletin|archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175315/http://www.mb.com.ph/things-you-may-not-know-about-gerphil/ }} she was dubbed "Asia's Golden Girl."{{cite web|title=Asia's Got Talent Interview: Gerphil Geraldine Flores|url=http://www.axn-asia.com/programs/asias-got-talent/gerphil-geraldine-flores|publisher=AXN Asia|access-date=10 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163336/https://www.axn-asia.com/programs/asias-got-talent/gerphil-geraldine-flores|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thephilippinepride.com/why-ai-ai-and-kris-eliminated-gerphil-during-the-pgt-semifinals/ |title=Why Ai-Ai and Kris eliminated Gerphil Geraldine Flores during the PGT Semi-finals – The Philippine Pride |author=Don Cuaresma |publisher=The Philippine Pride |date=10 May 2015 |access-date=28 October 2015}}
Personal life
File:Gerphil Flores (Gerphil At 26).jpg
Flores was born in Hamburg, Germany to a German father and a Filipino mother of Chinese, Japanese and Spanish descent.{{cite news|last1=Basmayor|first1=MV|title=Sorsoganon Gerphil Flores seeks Asia's Got Talent win|url=http://www.bicolstandard.com/2015/05/sorsoganon-gerphil-flores-seeks-asias.html|access-date=10 January 2016|work=Bicol Standard|date=May 2015}}
Career
= Formative years, training and education =
As an infant, Flores' parents regularly brought her to German opera houses.{{Cite journal|last=Salazar|first=Margaux|date=July 2015|title=Stellar|journal=Sense & Style|publisher=Manila Bulletin Publishing}} By the age of three, she began singing compositions by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, such as the aria "Queen of The Night" from The Magic Flute, and Ludwig van Beethoven.
After they relocated to the Philippines in 1994, Flores' love for music was further encouraged and nurtured by her family of music lovers, notably her maternal grandfather, a skilled Kundiman guitarist, and her mother who listened to various genres including classical, Broadway, and jazz.
By 11, Flores has decided to pursue a career in music. She would sing everyday and her mother would listen and observe if her daughter had the right pitch, or sounded flat or sharp.
To further hone her singing, Flores had voice lessons under New York City-based soprano Evelyn Mandac during the latter's trips to Manila.{{Cite web|url=http://music.upd.edu.ph/spotlight_AN%20ENCOUNTER%20WITH%20GERPHIL%20FLORES%20AND%20HER%20TEACHER.html|title=An Encounter with Gerphil Flores and her Teacher|last=Gojo|first=Rommel|date=29 May 2015|website=University of the Philippines College of Music}} Upon Mandac's advice, Flores started to formally study voice under University of the Philippines College of Music Associate Professor Katherine "Kitchie" Molina, a former chair at the voice, music theatre, and dance department, where Flores graduated with a diploma in creative performing musical arts, major in voice.
On 26 June 2016, Flores graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in music (major in voice){{Cite book|title=Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman Ika-105 Pangkalahatang Pagtatapos Souvenir Program|last=Pilipinas|first=Unibersidad ng|publisher=UP Diliman|year=2016|page=138}} and a diploma in creative performing musical arts from the College of Music, University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City.{{cite news|last1=Anarcon|first1=James Patrick|title=Asia's Got Talent semi-finalist Gerphil Flores wants to spread interest in classical music|url=http://www.pep.ph/guide/tv/17433/asia39s-got-talent-semi-finalist-gerphil-flores-wants-to-spread-interest-in-classical-music|access-date=10 January 2016|work=Philippine Entertainment Portal|publisher=GMA Network Inc.|date=22 April 2015}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/571382/showbiz/pep/gerphil-flores-graduates-cum-laude-from-up-diliman-finishes-two-degrees|title=Gerphil Flores graduates cum laude from UP Diliman, finishes two degrees|last=Portal|first=Philippine Entertainment|date=26 June 2016|work=GMA News|publisher=GMA}} She made it to the dean's list (college scholar) in the first semester of academic school year 2015–16, with a general weighted average of 1.468.{{Cite news|work=GMA News|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/560868/showbiz/gerphil-flores-makes-it-to-the-dean-s-list-of-up-college-of-music|title=Gerphil Flores makes it to the Dean's List of UP College of Music|date=30 March 2016}}{{cite news|title=Gerphil graduates cum laude from UP College of Music|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/06/24/16/look-gerphil-graduates-cum-laude-from-up-college-of-music|access-date=24 June 2016|work=ABS-CBN News|date=24 June 2016}}
= Theatre and opera years =
Since age 11, Flores joined several musical and opera productions. She was the lead child performer in the Philippine Opera Company's children's adaptation of Mozart's The Magic Flute.{{Cite book|title=The Romantic Rachmaninoff (Concert Programme)|last=Concert Orchestra|first=Metro Manila|date=7 August 2015|location=Philippines|pages=7}}
Her credits also include Repertory Philippines’ The Sound of Music, Trumpets’ High School Musical and First Name, Gantimpala Theater Foundation' María Clara in Noli Me Tángere and The Necklace and Kikay in New Yorker in Tondo, Kids Acts Philippines’ Alice in Alice in Wonderland, The Little Mermaid and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Mary in Fides Cuyugan-Asencio's Song of Joseph and Maria Makiling in Legend of M, and Gregoria de Jesús in Jerry Dadap's Andres Bonifacio.
As an opera performer, her credits include playing Anne Page in the opera production of UP College of Music's Merry Wives of Windsor and as Cio-Cio San and Kate Pinkerton alternates in Music Artes’ production of Giacomo Puccini’s Madame Butterfly held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay. She also assayed the role of Rusalka in Antonin Dvorak's opera of the same name at the same venue in September 2014;{{cite web|title=CCP & UP College of Music premiere Dvorak opera Rusalka|url=http://culturalcenter.gov.ph/press-room/ccp-up-college-of-music-premiere-dvorak-opera-rusalka/|publisher=Cultural Center of the Philippines|access-date=10 April 2016|date=5 September 2014}} this performance earned her an Aliw Award nomination as Best Actress in a Musical at the 28th Aliw Awards.
=''Asia's Got Talent''=
On 28 September 2014, the 24-year-old Flores pre-auditioned for the inaugural season of Asia's Got Talent, the regional version of the Got Talent franchise, as Gerphil Flores and advanced to the televised audition.{{cite news |title='Asia's Got Talent' holds audition in Manila |url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2014/09/26/1373429/asias-got-talent-holds-audition-manila |work=The Philippine Star|access-date=25 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518010242/http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2014/09/26/1373429/asias-got-talent-holds-audition-manila |archive-date=18 May 2015 }}{{cite web|title=ASIA'S GOT TALENT AT PINEWOOD ISKANDAR MALAYSIA STUDIOS|url=http://www.pinewoodgroup.com/our-studios/malaysia/news/asia%E2%80%99s-got-talent-pinewood-iskandar-malaysia-studios|website=Pinewood Group|access-date=25 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128154706/http://www.pinewoodgroup.com/our-studios/malaysia/news/asia%E2%80%99s-got-talent-pinewood-iskandar-malaysia-studios|archive-date=28 January 2015|url-status=dead}} Her televised audition aired on AXN Asia on 9 April 2015, where she sang "Speak Softly, Love" from the film The Godfather. Flores' performance was praised and earned her a standing ovation from both the audience and the four judges, particularly Canadian musician and record producer David Foster who praised her pitch, saying: "You certainly did not disappoint anybody in this room. It was really a solid performance. And your pitch is great, and I hate people who sing out of tune. You sang really in tune." With three of the judges voting yes, Foster pressed the golden buzzer, automatically sending her to the semifinals.{{cite news|last1=Mendoza|first1=Arvin|last2=Corrales|first2=Nestor|title=Filipina classical singer earns raves, 'golden buzzer' in 'Asia's Got Talent'|url=http://entertainment.inquirer.net/167458/watch-filipina-classical-singer-earns-raves-golden-buzzer-in-asias-got-talent|access-date=8 April 2016|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=10 April 2015}}
In the semi-final round held on 23 April 2015, Flores performed an operatic ballad version of the song "Love Story (Where Do I Begin?)" from the film Love Story, which elicited another standing ovation. Foster continued to praise her voice, saying that he could make her sound better if she would work with him, while English singer-songwriter and former Spice Girls member Melanie C said that she "deserved to be on the world stage" and Indonesian singer Anggun said that "she looked like a real diva" that night.{{cite web|title=Gerphil Flores Wows Judges on Asia's Got Talent Semi-finals|url=http://www.zeibiz.com/2015/04/gerphil-flores-wows-on-asias-got-talent-semi-finals/|publisher=Zeibiz|access-date=8 April 2016|date=23 April 2015}} On 30 April 2015, the show revealed that Flores was one of two acts from the previous week (the other being Mongolian musical ensemble Khusugtun) that had advanced to the finals through the public vote.{{cite news|title=PH singer Gerphil Flores advances to 'Asia's Got Talent' grand finals|url=http://www.rappler.com/entertainment/news/91702-filipino-singer-gerphil-geraldine-flores-asia-got-talent-grand-finalist|access-date=8 April 2016|work=Rappler|date=30 April 2015}}
In the final round on 7 May 2015, Flores performed her version of "The Impossible Dream" (Mitch Leigh) from the musical Man of La Mancha. After another standing ovation, Foster promised Flores that "the world is going to know about you."{{Cite web|url=http://asiasgottalent.tv/finals-gerphil-g-flores-agt8/|title=Gerphil Flores: Finalist AGT8|last=Got Talent|first=Asia's|date=8 May 2015|website=Asia's Got Talent}} At the results episode, aired on AXN Asia on 14 May 2015, after a tally of audience votes, Flores garnered the third highest votes among 12 finalists, after eventual grand champion, Filipino dance group El Gamma Penumbra, and runner-up, Khusugtun. She finished second runner-up in a field of 4,000 hopefuls.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}
= Concerts and tours =
On 11 December 2015, Flores had her first major solo concert, A Golden Treasure, at The Theatre at Solaire along the Bay City area of Parañaque. The concert featured songs from different genres that displayed her diversity as a classical-crossover performer; it also featured a live accompaniment by the Manila Symphony Orchestra, duets with McDonald's Philippines and Klassikal Music Foundation's George Yang, balladeer Nonoy Zuñiga and her dance number with Junior New System.{{Cite web|url=http://myxph.com/features/25481/myxclusive-gerphil-flores-talks-about-her-upcoming-concert/|title=MYXclusive: GERPHIL FLORES Talks About Her Upcoming Concert!|last=MUSIC CHANNEL|first=MYX|date=8 December 2015|website=MYXPH.COM}} This concert won the Aliw Awards 2016' Best Major Concert (Female).{{Cite news|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/12/02/16/lea-salonga-wins-entertainer-of-the-year-at-aliw-awards-2016|title=Lea Salonga Wins Entertainer of the Year at Aliw Awards 2016|date=2 December 2016|work=ABS-CBN News|publisher=ABS-CBN Corporation}}
The success of her first concert led to her pre-Valentine's Day solo concert, Tales of Love, at the same venue on 11 February{{ndash}}12, 2016. The concert featured love songs from different genres and languages with the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, Junior New System and singers Kris Gonzales, Al Gatmaitan, Jack Salud and singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan.{{Cite news|url=http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2016/02/27/1557099/usual-gerphil-didnt-disappoint|title=As usual, Gerphil didn't disappoint|last=Topacio|first=Ferdinand|date=27 February 2016|work=The Philippine Star}}
Flores was tapped by Asia's Got Talent judge David Foster to be part of his David Foster and Friends Asian Tour for 2015{{ndash}}16; she made her debut at the Hitman Tour at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on 17 August 2015, performing alongside Ruben Studdard, Natalie Cole, Charice Pempengco, Boyz II Men and Mark Mabasa.{{Cite news|url=http://www.rappler.com/entertainment/music/concerts/102927-highlights-david-foster-charice-manila-concert-2015|title=8 unforgettable moments from 'David Foster and Friends' Manila concert|last=Villano|first=Alexa|date=19 August 2015|work=Rappler}}{{Cite news|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/08/19/15/watch-gerphil-mark-mabasa-sing-fosters-concert|title=Gerphil and Mark Sing at Foster's Concert|date=19 August 2016|work=ABS-CBN News}}
Flores celebrated her 26th birthday with a soldout solo concert, Gerphil at 26, at The Music Museum on 29 September 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://www.musicmuseum.com.ph/gerphil-at-26-the-birthday-concert/|title=Gerphil at 26: The Birthday Concert|website=Music Museum}} The concert featured a diverse set list; the repertoire covered hits from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, current songs of 2016, and even went as far back as the 1800s. Some she sang with her famous classical style; others she rendered with pop and jazz inflections, accompanied by the Manila Symphony Orchestra.{{cite magazine|url=http://billboard.ph/gerphil-flores-proves-versatility-soldout-birthday-concert/|title=Gerphil Flores Proves Her Versatility During Her Soldout Birthday Concert|last=Pulido|first=Aleck|date=14 October 2016|magazine=Billboard Philippines}} The concert also featured performances from Daryl Ong and Clem Castro.
= Magazine covers =
After her stint at Asia's Got Talent, Flores was featured in the cover of the June 2015 issue of The Philippine Star’s GIST magazine{{Cite web|url=http://gist.ph/gerphils-got-talent/|title=Gerphil's Got Talent|last=Tibajia|first=Chonx|date=June 2015|work=The Philippine Star}} and the July 2015 issue of Manila Bulletin’s Publishing's Sense & Style magazine.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/gma/articles/2015-07-02/17207/Gerphil-Flores-graces-lifestyle-magazine-cover|title=Gerphil Flores Graces Lifestyle Magazine Cover|last=Rodriguez|first=Bea|date=2 July 2015|website=GMA Network News}}
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| Year
! Award ! Category ! Result ! Source |
|---|
| 2009
| rowspan=5| Aliw Award | rowspan=3| Best Female Classical Performer | {{Nominated}} |
| 2010
| {{Nominated}} |
| 2011
| {{Nominated}} |
| 2013
| Best Crossover/Broadway Performer | {{won}} |{{cite news|title=Mitoy on a roll, wins at 26th Aliw Awards|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/10/09/13/mitoy-roll-wins-26th-aliw-awards|access-date=6 April 2016|work=ABS-CBN News|publisher=ABS-CBN Corporation|date=9 October 2013}} |
| 2014
| Best Female Classical Performer | {{won}} |
| 2015
| Gawad Musika | Most Promising International Performing Artist | {{won}} |{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} |
| 2015
|Star | {{won}} |
| rowspan=4|2015
| rowspan=4|Aliw Award | Best Female Crossover Performer | {{won}} |
| Best Female Classical Performer
| {{won}} |
| Entertainer of the Year
| {{won}} |
| Best Actress in A Musical (Rusalka/NCCA/CCP)
| {{nominated}} |
| rowspan="2" |2016
| rowspan="2" |Aliw Award |Best Crossover Performer |{{won}} |
| Best Female Major Concert (A Golden Treasure, Theatre at Solaire)
|{{won}} |
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
{{commons-inline}}
{{Asia's Got Talent}}
{{Pilipinas Got Talent}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Flores, Gerphil}}
Category:Filipino people of Chinese descent
Category:Filipino people of Japanese descent
Category:Filipino people of Spanish descent
Category:Filipino musical theatre actresses
Category:Got Talent contestants
Category:Singers from Parañaque
Category:Pilipinas Got Talent contestants
Category:University of British Columbia alumni