How Rachelle almost lost her voice

MANILA, Philippines - Becoming the most sought-after soprano in the country was way beyond her wildest imagination. As a young girl, Rachelle Gerodias just wanted to study Fine Arts (or be a dancer!), get married, have kids and live a simple life. Her deeply religious parents, on the other hand, wanted her to take up Theology. But her exposure to the church choir and her choir at the Philippine Christian University where she idolized upper class member Lani Misalucha changed all that. She became a soloist of both choirs and started joining singing contests which she would win. At 16, she knew she had to accept that she had a God-given gift which she should enhance and share with others.

Once she had made up her mind, Rachelle majored in Voice at the Conservatory of Music of the University of Santo Tomas under the tutelage of colatura soprano Prof. Gloria Dizon-Coronel, graduating cum laude.

Opportunities to study abroad as a scholar came one after the other. Perfecting her craft was her main goal. Arming herself with a Master’s Degree in Voice Literature and Performance at the prestigious Eastman School of Music in New York, she went further to receive a Professional Diploma in Opera at the renowned Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Still based in Hong Kong, an agent was about to bring her to top European concert venues when she noticed that there was something wrong with her throat. She lost her voice and had to cancel bookings. A Filipino doctor delivered the bombshell: A polyp had to be removed and it was right at the center of her vocal cords. She would not be able to talk nor sing for several weeks. Hanging over her head was the risk that her voice would never be the same again. Her world fell apart.

At first, she started questioning her faith. She was only 25, ready to conquer the world after years of honing her singing talent. Why her? And why now? Leaving Hong Kong (and her Chinese boyfriend) she returned to the country for the operation and healing. As advised by top ENT doctor Dr. Almeda, she did not speak for six weeks. The day of reckoning came on the seventh week. Her first word was Hallelujah — and she knew, upon saying the word, that God gave her a second chance at singing.

From then on, Rachelle kept her promise to God that she would offer her voice in His glory. She started getting back in the circle of operatic, classical and kundiman singing. She expanded her repertoire to include Broadway songs to reach out to more people. And, with a lovely face, a beautiful body that moves so gracefully, sparkling intelligence and a good command of English, she had the perfect package to reach the top. Fired up more than ever, she started winning in so many singing competitions including the first prize in the Civic Morning Musicals Vocal Competition in Syracuse, New York. Swamped with invitations, she has recorded and performed with top musicians, conductors and orchestras around the world including London, Vienna, Sarajevo, Warsaw, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Spain, Taiwan, Italy, Shanghai and Korea, with Florence, as her all-time favorite city for obvious reasons. She has been recognized by her alma mater as The Young Thomasian Alumna Achiever awardee and the 2012 Outstanding Thomasian awardee. Notwithstanding that she is every inch a woman, she is also an awardee for the 2010 Ten Outstanding Young Men.

For more than a decade, she reigned and still reigns as the most bankable operatic soprano, a feat that she reached by strict discipline, and sacrifices even with matters of the heart. At 40, she told herself that it was time to give back by putting up a Rachelle Gerodias Music Foundation from the proceeds of her birthday concert. She now has Piano and Voice scholars who give her fulfillment. She even develops young talents by teaching Voice in UST.

At big and high-end company events and international conventions in the past where I had seen Rachelle mesmerize Filipinos and foreigners alike with her effortless performances of difficult classical pieces, I looked up to her from a distance and deemed her to be a larger-than-life gem of a performer who makes this country very proud. However, with my exclusive interview at the Celebrity Club, where the petite and soft-spoken Rachelle declared that she is determined to help put opera, the classics and most especially kundimans closer to the masses, I now see her not only as a national treasure but a wonderful and compassionate creation of God, a quiet yet very strong force in the Philippine music scene. I am happy that she still sketches beautiful landscapes and does ballroom dancing, things that she truly enjoys doing. But I also wish her to find a man who will love her and fulfill her childhood dream of getting married and having her own family someday.

For those who have not seen a real diva, a lady of outstanding talent in the field of opera, catch Rachelle play the lead soprano role Rosina in the opera The Barber of Seville tomorrow, July 13 and on July 14 at 8 p.m. at the CCP Main Theater. For tickets, call Ticketnet or CCP at 832-1125. It may be one of your once-in-a-lifetime, unforgettable experiences.