Her mother's daughter

We have seen Isabella grow up. We have seen her as a precocious young kid, who was oblivious to the fact that her mother was famous. But Isabella was not one kid whose photographs you saw in the pages of magazines and newspapers. Her mother tried to shield her from the prying eyes of the public. She was not also seen up until she was way into her teens.

Once in a while we would see photographs of her with her mother. Then came the decision: She wanted to be a singer too, just like her mother. We were not surprised. We knew it from our hearts that Isabella would eventually follow in her famous mother’s footsteps. And when she launched her first concert, the public went wild. Kuh Ledesma’s unica hija is side by side singing with her. She truly is her mother’s daughter.

Considered a music royalty and heir apparent of the acknowledged pop diva Kuh, Isabella breaks out of her illustrious mother’s shadow to establish her own niche in the music industry with her debut album Identity. The album was launched by Viva Records last September at the Teatrino in Greenhills.

Composed of 12 tracks written and arranged for her unique positioning as a young artist committed to using her music in furthering her ideals and values in life, Identity features works written mostly by Isabella herself, with some contributions from friends and family.

A poet and visual artist, Isabella paints soulful visions with her lyrics, all drawing from poignant relationships, an unshakeable faith, and her own youthful exuberance. With support from top producers and arrangers like Keith Martin, Tats Faustino, Moy Ortiz and Bob Aves, she treats listeners to a vocalese imbued by a lifetime of musical influences, foremost of which is the demanding artistry of her mother.

Originally leaning toward the standards with a strong penchant for jazz, Isabella was encouraged by Kuh to compile her own original compositions after reading bits and pieces of her poems and hearing snatches of melody lines that her daughter effortlessly came up with from time to time. Isabella’s works radiate with the beauty of her soul.

And with Identity now on shelves of record bars, Isabella trains her sights on wooing other young people like her, who may have gone through life’s ups and downs at such a tender age, but remain steadfast in their quest to make a better tomorrow for themselves and everyone else around.

Cuts in the album include, Overcome, I Know Someone, Take Me By The Hand, Soulmate, Fatherless Child, Dance In Your Light, Can’t Fight This Feeling, Believe, More Than Conquerors, among others.

The Little Mermaid

Atlantis Productions has secured the rights to stage the Broadway musical, Disney’s The Little Mermaid in November 2011. It is the first theater company to acquire a license of the show after its Broadway run. It is made possible through a special licensing agreement with Music Theatre International.

Based on one of the most beloved Disney films of all time and the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, Disney’s The Little Mermaid is the sparkling new Disney musical that has made a big splash on Broadway. Some of Disney’s most popular songs are featured in show — including Part of Your World, Kiss the Girl, and the Academy award-winning Best Original Song, Under the Sea — by the renowned songwriting team of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. The stage adaptation also features 10 new songs by Menken and Glenn Slater, plus a book by Tony-winning playwright Doug Wright. It will be directed by Bobby Garcia and Chari Arespacochaga.

Auditions for all roles in Disney’s The Little Mermaid will be held on Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Studio M, 9699 Pililia St., Bgy. Valenzuela, Makati City. Be prepared to sing one musical theater song with either piano score or minus one and bring a current photo of yourself. Registration begins at 10 a.m.

Shows are also now available for show buying and fund raising opportunities. Don’t miss out on this chance to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime family musical classic.

For details, call 892-7078 or 840-1187.