Music
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Fifth-grader has song in her heart
By Cheryl Walker
UNION-TRIBUNE COMMUNITY NEWS WRITER
January 21, 2006
VALLEY CENTER – She's been a San Diego County Fair Superstar winner, performed at a banquet for former San Diego Mayor Dick Murphy, modeled for Wal-Mart, been on the radio and appeared on television.
It's all on 10-year-old Daechelle Hernandez's résumé.
The fifth-grader at Valley Center Upper Elementary has been singing since she was a toddler.
"She's always listened to radio, pop and hip-hop," said her mother, Michelle Sandoval. "She picked up songs really quick. We have a big family with lots of aunts, uncles and cousins. Everyone sings, and it looks like she's picked up that trait. Every one of us owns a karaoke (machine)."
Daechelle began performing in public when she was 7 and started formal voice lessons in La Crescenta last year.
"I love singing," she said. "I'm nervous every single time before I sing, but once I get out there and start singing, I'm fine."
"As soon as she grabs that mike, she changes," her mother added.
Daechelle, who is of Latino and Filipino descent, is a reigning Little Miss Philippines. Another feather in her cap was winning the Ikea Idol contest at Belmont Park last summer, competing against 100 contestants.
She has been booked to sing the national anthem at the United Education Institute and Pima Medical Institute's graduation ceremonies this year.
"She's starting to get calls asking her to perform," Sandoval said. "When she first started singing, people would approach me and tell me I had to do something with her talent."
Earlier this month, she competed on television in the USA Worldshowcase.
"She's made it to the top 12 so far," Sandoval said. "This is a pretty big contest, and people come from all over to compete. If she wins, the prize is $50,000."
One of Daechelle's favorite performers is Mariah Carey.
"She has a very big range, and she sings a variety of songs," she said.
A straight-A student, Daechelle's favorite subjects are math and language arts. She also likes to draw.
"Drawing is a really good way to get feelings out and express yourself," she said. "I want to go to an arts/singing college. I really want to be a singer."
Daechelle is learning to play the piano and would like to take acting lessons.
"She's booked solid," said Sandoval. "All of the family pitches in to help get her to where she needs to be."
Daechelle sings ballads most of the time, and her favorite song is the Broadway tune, "On My Own."
She loves performing at all kinds of events and soon would like to perform at nursing homes.
"I love singing for a cause," she said. "Right now, I'm not looking for the money. I like to see people happy. I like it when they tell me, 'You touched my heart.' Sometimes it makes people cry." - Cheryl Walker
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Daechelle’s last performance of “On My Own” gave her enough confidence to audition for “ A Night of Broadway.” Not expecting to get a call back because of her lack of acting experience, she was baffled by being offered a “solo” part in the show.
SAN DIEGO, CA- On Saturday, March 4th, Daechelle got ready to go to an audition that her mom set up for her a few days before.
Not knowing or even caring what it was for, she got ready and practiced the song her mom asked her to sing in the morning.
During the drive, her mom told her that this was “just an opportunity to experience” what it ould be like to audition for a “Broadway” show.
Daechelle has never acted on stage, nor is familiar at all with “Broadway.” The only song she knew was “On My Own,” from Les Miserable. The song wasn’t even on the list of music selections to choose from, but the “mother-daughter” team decided to see what would happen if they auditioned the song anyways.
“The worse they’ll do is say ‘no’- big deal,” Daechelle’s mom explained. Not only was it unlisted as a selection, but she had to sing it for the first time with piano sheet music that her mom bought the night before. Not nervous at all, she slept in the car on the way to the audition.
Since Daechelle had piano lessons at 2:30pm, her mom scheduled her to audition first at 1:45pm. Daechelle entered the room and was interviewed by the Director, Shaun Evans, all by herself. (Her mom was going nuts in the lobby.)
Not knowing how well she did, her mom asked her to rate herself from 1-10. Daechelle said with confidence, “8.” The two drove home discussing how much they
learned from the audition.
Tuesday morning, Daechelle’s mom logged on to www.cyctheatre.com and noticed the Daechelle’s name was on the evening program as a “solo performer” singing “On My Own.”
The director called later that day and said, “I have worked with children all over the world, that is my specialty and rarely do I ever change my program for anyone, especially a child, but your daughter’s audition blew me away!”
Daechelle was not shocked, she said she knew it and rated herself an “8” because the “piano-guy” messed up!
Join us in watching her debut on “Broadway” on Monday evening, March 27th at 7pm. You’ll be surprised…… - Unknown
August 20, 2006
Valley Center girl making her dreams come true
By: ANDREW PETERSON
VALLEY CENTER ---- At the tender age of 11, Daechelle Hernandez has already competed in ---- and won ---- enough singing competitions to fill a two-page resume, and has caught the attention of talent scouts at Disney and Sony.
Her earliest musical memories are of karaoke sing-alongs.
"My whole family does it. Whenever we have a party everybody brings their karaoke CDs ... and everyone in the whole party just sings like crazy."
Her mother, Michelle Tiangco, an admissions counselor at Pima Medical Institute in Chula Vista, remembers when Daechelle first showed her unusual musical aptitude.
"She was about 3, and she would pick up on all the music on the radio and just memorize everything," the mother said. "By the time she was five years old we began entering her in competitions, and her musical gifts started to attract attention."
Daechelle made it to the semi-finals in her first public performance at the Del Mar Fair in 2003. The next year she won.
"When they called my name I was so excited," she recalled. "I was like, 'Did you just say my name?' "
Indeed they hadÝ---- as would judges in contests as diverse as the Belmont Idol, Little Miss Philippines USA, the Proscout Convention, and many others.
With artistic talents that extend beyond singing to include acting and dancing, Daechelle leads a life that's adventurous and hectic, but still recognizable enough to any kid who ever had to give up Nintendo for homework on a school night.
"She goes to school Monday through Friday, so we never interrupt that," Tiangco said. "As long as she keeps her grades up then she can do all the extracurricular."
As a straight-A student with perfect attendance, Daechelle has held up her end of that bargain; the fruits of her latest extracurricular project were on display for Padres fans at Petco Park on Sunday when, as part of The FX Dance Studio Kids, she danced with The Friar.
It was her largest audience to date, but Daechelle says that doesn't matter much.
"When I'm on stage, I can't see anything, and I just get in the zone and I do what I have to do and I make the most of it. The lights are flashing in my eyes ... and I don't really care how many people are there, just the audience and applause and cheering gets me all pumped up."
All of which raises the inevitable questions that swirl around up-and-coming child stars ---- is it all too much, too fast, too soon?
"We give her time to breathe so she can be a kid still, so she can have time to hang out with her friends," said Tiangco. "(But) she likes being busy. She doesn't like sittin' around."
For her part, Daechelle has energy and enthusiasm to spare.
In a phone interview held the Friday before the Padres show, she said she looked forward to the attention and excitement: "Hopefully we get on TV, hopefully we get on the news, and we're gonna be on the big screen. And I love dancing hip-hop, it's so much fun."
Yet beneath the infectious enthusiasm of this high-spirited and tremendously likable little girl is someone with amazing drive, organized and goal-oriented.
"I wanted this, ever since I was able to think," Daechelle said. "Ever since I was three years old I've been doing shows, and modeling and then singing, and acting, and dancing -- it's like my dream is coming true ---- sometimes it does feel like a dream and I'm gonna wake up."
But it's all very real, as real as the piano lessons, the studio demos, the advice of her vocal coach ---- and the love and support of her family; particularly her mother.
"My mom is my biggest supporter," Daechelle said. "She will do anything for me.
"She'll drive me to 50 performances in one month if she has to, you know? She'll wake up at six in the morning to take me somewhere if she had to. She is my biggest supporter and I love her so much."
- North County Times
Discography
EP released April 12th 2007 with Blush, Text Messages, Fearless, Goin' There, Rocket Ship and All Natural
Additional just recorded tracks will be available for sale soon.
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Bio
Daechelle was “born to be a star” on February 7, 1995 in San Diego, California. At the early age of 3, this honor student started her career in front of the camera. She worked in print and ramp modeling with Wal-Mart, Parent Magazine, National University, Cotton Kids and Disguise Magazine featured in fashion shows, cataloges and halloween costume packages.
Daechelle showed her most prominent talent at many family karaoke functions. She never hesitated to entertain her family and friends with her mature and soulful voice. She was destined for stardom from the very beginning.
At the ripe young age of seven, she entered many competitions and talent showcases taking home trophies, prizes and local recognition. Her burning desire to compete stirred up her interests in other contests, including an international beauty pageant.
Being crowned “Little Miss Philippines Universe 2005” at the Los Angeles Convention Center is what launched her singing career. With her jaw dropping acapella performance of Kelly Clarkson’s “A Moment Like This” and her ability to confidently answer questions in regards to community services, being a role model and future goals, she undoubtedly swept all categories in the competition and came home winning the title including “Most Photogenic, Best in Gown and Most Friendly.”
Since then she has been asked to “open” for several international celebrities, perform as a “special guest” at many community events and to sing the National Anthem at countless college graduations. Her exposure on stage as well as in local publications created quite a buzz around town and was slowly building her growing fan base.
Her TV debut on the USA World Showcase was filmed at the MGM Grand Studios in Las Vegas, Nevada. Taking home the trophy for “1st Place Most Promising Child Singer” she received over 6.5 million votes on PAX television. This would be the first of several major music awards for the 10 year old. She was recognized in the competition for her powerful voice, her ability to sing acapella and leaving her audience in tears.
Daechelle’s professional singing career began 2005 when she was introduced to Peter Roberts- the producer that started it all! Peter discovered Daechelle a few days after her 11th birthday, when her Los Angeles vocal coach decided it was time to show her off. After recording their third song together entitled, Fearless, Peter introduced Daechelle to her soon-to-be manager, Dennis Rodriguez, who worked with Celine Dion in Las Vegas. In September 2005, Peter received a call requesting an appearance from Daechelle in Boston, Massachusetts. The request was for the song “Fearless” to be performed for the first time for an all girls school called Esperanza Academy.
“Fearless” was dedicated to the young students at the Esperanza Academy- School of Hope. Her performance at the fundraising benefit to support this private school for economically disadvantaged girls in the 5th through 8th grades, received a standing ovation. The mission statement for Esperanza captures the school’s hope for all of its girls: to provide quality education, welcoming girls of diverse faiths, races and cultures and to challenge each student to realize her full potential. Daechelle has remained friends with the Esperanza Girls and is a constant reminder to all of them that dreams do come true!
Little did “Team Daechelle” know that “Fearless” was the song that was going to take her career to the next level. The combination of this upbeat girl power anthem with an inspirational message was the direction Daechelle wanted to focus her career on. Her mission to change the world with her voice started coming true!
Daechelle made several appearances on morning shows and was interviewed live on several radio shows throughout San Diego, Riverside and Los Angeles county, making her a local superstar. She was labeled as “San Diego’s Singing Sensation,” “Valley Center’s Songbird” and the “Fearless Vocalist.”
In 2006, a year after she met her producer, Daechelle was best known for her two time award winning song “Fearless.” Billboard Music placed it 1st in the Pop category after critiquing over 18,000 song entries world-wide. Additionally, the International Songwriting Competition awarded it 1st place in the “People’s Voice Award.”
But it was in 2007, that “Fearless” was finally released world-wide. Selected once again out of 4,000 song entries as the winner of Geffen Records’ “Bratz” contest, the song was featured in a climatic scene in the Lionsgate movie and is the main track on the official movie soundtrack. At a promotional campaign meeting on July 13, 2007, Daechelle met Ron Fair, President of Geffen Records, where he put her on the spot and had her sing Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” in front of a room full of music executives. She blew them away and was immediately signed to the major label that same day and was set to film her first music vide
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