Chyrell
(pronounced "shy-rell"), is
one of the most visible singers within
the Filipino community in Greater Toronto.
Blessed with a voice that’s often
described as angelic, she started singing
before the age of 3,recording nursery
rhymes and songs caught on tape by her
mother. By age 12, she was already a
member of the Dominican College High
School Glee Club. And at 14, she joined
the Agustian Choir at Santuario de Santo
Cristo in San Juan, Metro Manila where
she grew up.
The School
Years
Her love for music continued on until
college at the University of the Philippines
where she graduated with a Bachelor
of Science in Biology. But the aspiring
doctor couldn’t be kept away from
singing. As a UP student, she was a
member of the UP Manila Chorale and
the UP Concert Chorus, the official
choir of the university. Led by the
late, highly-respected Professor Rey
T. Paguio, the multi-awarded choir exposed
Chyrell to diverse styles of music,
allowing her to fully hone her talent.
From show tunes, pop and jazz, to spirituals
and contemporary music, and all the
way to Filipino zarzuelas and grand
classical operas, Chyrell learned them
all and performed with the choir at
different events. These include the
1994 Metro Manila Film Festival and
the Bamboo Organ Festival in Las Pinas,
as well as guest appearances on national
TV shows like Ryan Ryan Musikahan on
ABS-CBN channel 2 and on A Little Night
Of Music on GMA channel 7. They also
performed for dignitaries such as former
Pres. Corazon Aquino and the Philippine
Senate for the 1991 National Day of
Prayer held at the Hotel Intercontinental
Manila.
To
the T.O
Moving to Toronto in 1995, she quickly
immersed herself into what she does
best, joining the 11:30 choir at Our
Lady of Lourdes Parish as well as
the Himig Pilipino Choral Ensemble,
a non-profit cultural group based
in Mississauga. In 1998, she became
a vocalist for the ‘Yan ‘Yon
Band, and has been unstoppable ever
since. She immediately became a much
sought-after guest performer in various
functions, celebrations, pageants
and concerts. Even well-established
artists in the Philippine music industry
sought her out. She did back-up vocals
for Joey Albert in Toronto and Ottawa,
and also sang a duet with Nonoy Zuniga
in his 2000 Toronto concert. She also
entertained VIP guests at the Martin
Nievera and Vina Morales press conference.
Other artists she’s performed
for are Jean Lopez, Billy Castelvi,
Anthony Castelo, Yoyoy and Hanna Villame
and Mike Hanopol.
She has also performed
with Filipino-Canadian artists like
Alvin Alba, Anna Estrada, Anthony
Lusaya, Art Vente, Cheryl Suarez,
Clarissa Miranda, Cristian Serano,
Donald Torres, Elaine Virola, Ely
Torrenueva,George Mendoza, Genie Lim,
Graceless, Jamir delaPaz, Jeffrey
Arota, Jennifer Uy, Jenny Camacho,
Jing Carlos, Josie de Leon, JP Sunga,
Karen Tan, Leander Mendoza, Lilac
Cana, Lizette Aceveda, Lyn, Martha
Joy Lim, Marvin De Guzman, Mike Dizon,
Mike Ombao, ORA, Rhoda Mae Gallardo,
Rodney Ronquillo, Rolly Gatchalian,
Sharen Martin and Terry Elegino, just
to name a few.
She and Rodney have also worked and recorded with Canadian Idol 2007 Winner Brian Melo.
Performing
in front of a huge audience is when
Chy truly shines. Some of her friends
have jokingly called her “Superman”,
referring to her strange ability to
transform into an entirely different
person (that is, a captivating performer)
once you put her in the limelight.
You may have seen this transformation
at the 2003 Lunar New Year Festival
at the CNE. Or at the Mabuhay! Philippines
Festival at the Harbourfront Centre
(2001 and 2002), and at and the Nathan
Phillips Square (2003). She also sang
in the Ati-Atihan Festival at Humber
Wood Community Centre, the Asia-Pacific
Rim Celebrations at the Toronto Congress
Centre, the 1998 Mabuhay! Philippines
Feature Exhibit at the CNE, and the
Philippine Independence Centennial
Celebration at the Skydome, with Himig
Pilipino and CBCW.
The
voice of an Angel
Chyrell’s beautiful voice and
commanding stage presence is a perfect
fit among Filipina beauties, making
her a favourite guest performer for
pageants. She’s serenaded audiences
at the 2003 Miss International-Canada
Presentation Night &Party at Manhattan
Fuel, 2002 Bb. Pilipinas Pageant at
Jane Mallett Theatre, the 2001 Miss
Manila Pageant at Bickford Theatre,
the 1999 Ontario Search for Miss Universe,
the 1998 Miss Toronto-Universe Pageant
and the 1997 Miss Manila Pageant.
Critics
can’t help but notice Chyrell’s
exceptional voice quality, earning
her many praises and a number of awards.
Among her list of accomplishments
include being a Hall of Fame recipient
for the Ontario Regional Songfest,
as she grabbed the Grand Champion
title three times— one in 1996,
another in 1998 (together with a People’s
Choice Award), and lastly in 2000.
She also placed 2nd runner-up in the
1998 National Songfest in Montreal,
and was a finalist in the 1996 National
Songfest in Ottawa. She was also the
TUKLAS 1995 Grand Champion & Female
Vocalist of the Year.
Her
first major concert
After the postponement of her first
solo concert in April 2003 due to
the onset of SARS, "An Evening
with Chyrell Samson" finally
pushed through at the Jane Mallett
Theatre on the 27th of September 2003.
But before her long-awaited solo concert,
she’s been featured in other
mini-shows. In 1996, she headlined
in "The Stars of Tomorrow"
together with Jeffrey Arota, George
Mendoza, Anthony Alibangbang and Kahi
Wahini Dancers at the Mabuhay Restaurant
in North York. And in 1998 she was
featured in "The Ontario Regional
Songfest ‘98 Grand Champions
In Concert" with Paul Manoso,
Jeffrey Arota and Melody MacDougall
at Mississauga’s Boracay Restaurant.
She also participated in the first
and consequent productions of A.M.O.R.
(Arts, Music on Reflection), an umbrella
group created for visual and performing
artists, where she performed her original
compositions.
Vocal
training and theatre experiences
Chyrell received classical voice training
under tenor Leander Mendoza, a piano
and voice graduate of the University
of Santo Tomas’ Conservatory
of Music, and who is also active in
musical circles here in Toronto. An
all-around talent, Chyrell has a slew
of theatre credits to her name. She
played the role of “Kalayaan”
in Images of 1896, an adaptation of
the musical “1896” which
is an original musical by PETA Philippines.
She also played the role of “Aling
Juana” in Walang Sugat for the
Carlos Bulosan Cultural Workshop,
a community theatre group that seeks
to reflect the struggles and achievements
of Filipino-Canadians through popular
theatre education. In the musical
Godspell (originally done on Broadway,
and based on the gospel of St. Matthew),
she played the role of “Lamar”.
Other theatre experiences include,
The Song of Mark (a musical based
on the gospel of St. Mark), Bulaklak
Ng Kabundukan, a zarzuela with the
UP Concert Chorus, and Cartas de Amor,
the love story of Dr. Jose Rizal and
Leonor Rivera, recounted through letters
and love songs.
Adventure
in Songwriting and a debut Cd
Constantly dabbling in composition
touching on themes of love, friendship
and reminiscences, Chyrell recently
released her single, “Waiting
for You” at the 2003 Mabuhay
Festival. It was arranged and produced
by Rodney Ronquillo, who is a Toronto-based
Producer/Arranger/Singer/Songwriter.
Her self-titled debut album was released
at her solo concert in September 2003
and is now available on CDBaby.
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