Aicelle’s advice to singing search hopefuls

Aicelle Santos

For Aicelle Santos, one of the trickiest aspects of judging a singing contest for kids is giving a truthful assessment in a way that’s still encouraging for the hopefuls.

“You don’t want to say anything that will make them feel like not joining anymore. I want the experience to be enjoyable for them. I don’t want them to fear the stage. I don’t want them to feel that this is strictly a competition,” she told reporters at a recent press conference for GMA 7’s “Centerstage,” which starts its telecast on Feb. 16.

She also hopes to emphasize that losing in a contest doesn’t spell the end of one’s dream; that losing is also an opportunity for growth.

“I have joined several contests when I was young, and I failed some. I was so sad after one of my losses that I told myself I would never join a contest again. It hurt me,” she recalled. “I faced a belter back then. And I wasn’t one at the time. It wasn’t my strength. But I thought, ‘Maybe, I can build on what I have.’” Then, Aicelle was “rediscovered” in musical theater. She played Gigi in the recent UK tour of “Miss Saigon.”

What advice would she give young aspiring singers?

“Just practice and keep singing. The more you sing, the more you improve. And you discover certain vocal placements or things you never knew you’re capable of doing. Don’t stop learning,” she said. “You also have to mean what you sing. You have to tell a story with the song to really capture the audience,” added the singer, who finished first runner-up in Season 2 of “Pinoy Pop Superstar” in 2006. “You have to own the stage.”

And children shouldn’t be too hard on themselves. “It’s important to forgive yourself when you make mistakes,” Aicelle pointed out. —ALLAN POLICARPIO