Cheyenne Suarez

Former Madrigal Singer Zid Yarcia makes musical theater debut in 'Going Home to Christmas'

Article (news)

Jervis Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1734075123442GHTC Scene.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Zid Yarcia (second from left) in &quot;Going Home to Christmas.&quot;</div>The next triple threat in Philippine musical theater is here.Former Philippine Madrigal Singer Zadkiel John &quot;Zid&quot; Yarcia has made his musical theater debut on Repertory Philippines&#x27; &quot;Going Home to Christmas,&quot; a musical featuring the iconic songs of Jose Mari Chan.Playing the role of Miko, one of the quartet airport carollers, Yarcia proves he is a valuable addition in an ensemble of veteran and newcomers in the country&#x27;s vibrant theater scene.&quot;I feel very happy kasi this has been my dream since childhood, makapag-perform, maka-act, kumanta with movement din. To be with this cast full of amazing performers, it&#x27;s such an honor,&quot; he told ABS-CBN News.Yarcia joins the likes of Carla Guevara Laforteza, Floyd Tena, and Neomi Gonzales who are mainstays in Philippine stage productions.Together with Julia Serad, Roxy Aldiosa, and Johann Enriquez, he sang &quot;A Wish on Christmas Night,&quot; &quot;The Bells at Christmas,&quot; and &quot;Ring in the New.&quot;In 2019, then a college freshman, Yarcia joined the prestigious Philippine Madrigal Singers, touring the world for various performances and competitions. He was also part of the premier group&#x27;s 60th anniversary concert.And if that&#x27;s not enough, the 25-year-old baritone recently graduated from the UP College of Music with a degree in voice, Summa Cum Laude.Asked why he is pursuing a seeming redirection of his career from chorale music to theater, Yarcia said this is part of his evolution as an artist.In fact, he said his rigorous training in the &quot;Madz&quot; made him sharper in his performances, which is evident in his portrayal of a singer role.&quot;I don&#x27;t think I really left. Choir singing, it&#x27;s always gonna be in my heart, and in my soul. I&#x27;m a choir singer forever. Gamit na gamit ko nga pagiging korista ko sa music rehearsals,&quot; he explained. &quot;I also just graduated this year and that&#x27;s a sign for me to pursue a solo career,&quot; he added.When not onstage, Yarcia teaches voice to children and young adults at the RMA Studio Academy. He said he is yearning to do more projects in the future.&quot;I plan to join more productions in the future, continue music-making, and spread the magic of our culture and our music to others. Gusto kong makapag-perform in different places, in the country and abroad,&quot; he said.&quot;I also hope to be able to do music cultural exchanges, helping to spread and educate others about the beauty of our own music, such as the Kundiman, while also learning about their own music.&quot;With many titles under his belt and a huge potential to make it big, Yarcia is just getting started.&quot;I want to be able to share the wonder, the beauty of our culture here and abroad,&quot; he ended.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/events/2024/12/7/theater-review-rep-takes-flight-with-going-home-to-christmas-0944">Theater review: Rep takes flight with &#x27;Going Home to Christmas&#x27;</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/11/4/-a-fulfillment-of-my-dream-jose-mari-chan-honored-to-have-musical-featuring-his-songs-1740">&#x27;A fulfillment of my dream&#x27;: Jose Mari Chan honored to have musical featuring his songs</a></div>

The 25-year-old baritone graduated Summa Cum Laude from UP College of Music.