Rhap Salazar Brings Home the 2009 WCOPA Junior Grand Champion Performer of the Word Title

Rhap Salazar wins the top award in the 13th World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) held at the Westin Bonaventure in downtown Los Angeles, California on July 17.

ABS-CBN's Little Big Star Brightest Star Rhap won the coveted titles of Junior Grand Champion Solo Vocalist of the World and Junior Grand Champion Performer of the World.

Twelve-year-old Rhap sang a one-minute version of Celine Dion's "All By Myself" at the final show.

WCOPA Philippine National Director Carlo Orosa narrated, "Hours before the finals, Rhap's voice was getting tired due to extensive rehearsals for two straight days. He did everything to conserve his voice. Despite the odds, he gave a stellar performance worthy of the top prizes in the junior division. The American judges were simply blown away by his soaring vocals."

The judges at the grand finals were composed of high profile agents, record and television producers, choreographers, and Disney theme park directors in California and New York.

Aside from Rhap, the vocal quartet The Young Voices of Negros won the title Junior Grand Champion Group Vocalists of the World.

On their part, The Young Voices of Negros (Katrina, Kristina, Aissa and Kristopherson Madrigal) performed a highly polished rendition of "And I Am Telling You" from the musical Dreamgirls, in four-part harmony.

WCOPA's newest junior champions Rhap and The Young Voices of Negros will be featured on ABC's Good Morning America through the "My Life in Three Words" segment.

Watch below Rhap Salazar�s performances at this year�s WCOPA:

Rhap Salazar - All By Myself

Rhap Salazar - Reach




Rhap Salazar - I'll Be There




Rhap Salazar - And I'm Telling You




Rhap Salazar - Somewhere Over The Rainbow

2009 WCOPA Winners - Philippine Medalists

Team Philippines captured a total of 59 medals (25 golds, 25 silvers and 9 bronzes) at the 13th World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA).

Here is the complete medal haul of the Philippines in the 2009 edition of the Talent Olympics:

J2 Power Duet
o SILVER - Group Vocal Pop - 30&Over
o SILVER - Group Vocal R&B/Soul/Jazz - 30&Over

The Young Voices Of Negros Philippines
o GOLD - Group Vocal Original Works - 11-12
o GOLD - Group Vocal R&B/Soul/Jazz - 11-12
o SILVER - Group Vocal Gospel - 11-12
o SILVER - Group Vocal Open - 11-12
o SILVER - Group Vocal Pop - 11-12

Christian Matthew Andeza
o GOLD - Male Vocal Contemporary - 18-24
o GOLD - Male Vocal Original Works - 18-24
o SILVER - Male Vocal Broadway - 18-24
o BRONZE - Male Vocal Pop - 18-24
o BRONZE - Male Vocal R&B/Soul/Jazz - 18-24

Evette Pabalan
o GOLD - Female Vocal Broadway - 25-29
o GOLD - Female Vocal Rock - 25-29
o SILVER - Female Vocal Gospel - 25-29
o BRONZE - Female Vocal Pop - 25-29

Guy Lockwood
o GOLD - Male Acting Contemporary - 30&Over
o GOLD - Male Vocal Gospel - 30&Over
o SILVER - Male Acting Dramatic - 30&Over
o SILVER - Male Variety-3 And Under Props - 30&Over
o BRONZE - Male Vocal Country&Western - 30&Over

Izarzuri Vidal
o SILVER - Female Vocal Opera - 18-24

Maila Mitra
o GOLD - Female Vocal Gospel - 25-29
o SILVER - Female Vocal Broadway - 25-29
o SILVER - Female Vocal Open - 25-29
o SILVER - Female Vocal Pop - 25-29
o SILVER - Female Vocal Rock - 25-29

Martha Joy Lim-Fiuza
o GOLD - Female Vocal Open - 18-24
o GOLD - Female Vocal Pop - 18-24
o BRONZE - Female Vocal Gospel - 18-24
o BRONZE - Female Vocal Country&Western - 18-24

Mayumi Morales
o GOLD - Female Vocal Broadway - 13-15
o GOLD - Female Vocal Open - 13-15
o GOLD - Female Vocal R&B/Soul/Jazz - 13-15
o SILVER - Female Vocal Gospel - 13-15

Melchizedek Bicua
o SILVER - Male Vocal Open - 11-12
o SILVER - Male Vocal Pop - 11-12
o SILVER - Male Vocal R&B/Soul/Jazz - 11-12
o SILVER - Male Vocal Rock - 11-12

Nicole Joy Espolong
o SILVER - Female Vocal Pop - 18-24

Orie Jun Vamenta
o GOLD - Male Vocal Rock - 25-29
o SILVER - Male Vocal Gospel - 25-29
o SILVER - Male Vocal Open - 25-29
o BRONZE - Male Vocal Pop - 25-29

Reynaldo Concepcion
o GOLD - Male Vocal Gospel - 25-29
o GOLD - Male Vocal R&B/Soul/Jazz - 25-29
o SILVER - Male Vocal Broadway - 25-29
o SILVER - Male Vocal Pop - 25-29
o BRONZE - Male Vocal Open - 25-29

Rhap Salazar
o GOLD - Male Vocal Broadway - 11-12
o GOLD - Male Vocal Gospel - 11-12
o GOLD - Male Vocal Open - 11-12
o GOLD - Male Vocal Pop - 11-12
o GOLD - Male Vocal R&B/Soul/Jazz - 11-12

Ronald Diana
o GOLD - Male Vocal Contemporary - 30&Over
o GOLD - Male Vocal Open - 30&Over
o GOLD - Male Vocal Original Works - 30&Over
o SILVER - Male Vocal R&B/Soul/Jazz - 30&Over
o BRONZE - Male Vocal Pop - 30&Over

Filipina Kimverlie Molina gave Saudi Arabia a total of 4 medals:

* GOLD - Female Vocal Gospel - 18-24
* GOLD - Female Vocal Broadway - 18-24
* SILVER - Female Vocal Rock - 18-24
* BRONZE - Female Vocal Pop - 18-24

Source: WCOPA