Discover some fascinating trivia and behind-the-scenes stories about the talented members of The Vocal Groove Collective:
- Family Ties in the Collective: Some members of The Vocal Groove Collective are not just bandmates—they’re family! Rodney (husband) and Chyrell (wife), Jenifer Camacho (aunt) and Coleen Oabel (niece), and Aileen Targa (mother) and Antoinette Targa (daughter). Siblings Gabi and Dani Catral are also members of the collective.
- Family Ties to the stars: Rodney, though not by blood, is a distant relative and uncle-in-law to Filipino singer Lani Misalucha (a family tie through Tessie Balancio, Lani’s Aunt, who is married to Rodney’s first cousin Jr. Perfecto Balancio). Also, another family tie is our late and dear friend Pam Gamboa Gan who was a cousin to Filipino singer Sharon Cuneta (Sharon Gamboa Cuneta).
- Shared Birthdays Across Generations: Founder Rodney Ronquillo and core member Lalaine Osea share the same birthday, January 24! Rodney is a Gen Xer born in the 1970s, while Lalaine is a Gen Zer born in the mid-2000s.
- Multi-Band Front Leads: Many members, including Amsky, Bevs, Don, Marvs, Kuya Pabs, Jenifer, Lalaine, and Norman, perform with multiple bands outside the Collective.
- Jazz Festival Star: Amsky is the only member of the Collective to have performed in the prestigious Toronto Jazz Festival for many years with her bands.
- Hollywood Actor Among Us: Core member Don Torres appeared in Guillermo del Toro’s sci-fi blockbuster Pacific Rim and the remake of RoboCop.
- Film Stars in the Group: Members like Kuya Pabs (Islands, Altar Boy, Postcard), John Alix (Temptations of a Hero, Shadows of the Soul), and Chyrell (Islands, Return to Country, Postcard) have also graced the silver screen.
- Contributing to Hollywood: Founder Rodney Ronquillo made 3D modeling suggestions for The Matrix and contributed sound effects to another Keanu Reeves film, Johnny Mnemonic.
- Violin Virtuosos: Both Amsky and Jhoana are talented violinists in the group.
- A Star is Discovered: Colleen Oabel was recruited into the Collective after being discovered at a concert hosted by Jhoana where Rodney was the emcee.
- Friendship Through Music: Jenifer Camacho and Chyrell have been friends since meeting at a singing competition in 1996. They both have been singing champions.
- Decades of Friendship: Rodney and Don have known each other since the early ’90s. Don arrived in Canada at age 24, while Rodney had just graduated high school at 19. Their first gig together was with a church group for a wedding.
- Music Educator Extraordinaire: Jhoana is the only music school owner and teacher/mentor/coach in the Collective.
- Festive Beginnings: Rodney and Chyrell met Rommel Sudan at a GTA Catholics Meetup group for a Christmas caroling event, where Rommel was the music director and conductor.
- Social Media Influencer: Ryan Orlanda is the founder of Pinoy Vibes World, a popular group with over 100,000 followers.
- Choral Excellence: Norman, Chyrell, and Rodney were part of a Filipino choral group called the Himig Pilipino Choral Ensemble.
- Connections Through Friendship: Gabbie and Dani Catral joined the Collective through their mutual friend, Lalu De Jesus.
- WCOPA Singing Champions: Bevs Saraza, Antoinette Targa and Reniel Idos are medalists at WCOPA, earning gold and silver medals respectively.
- TV and Radio Stars: Antoinette Targa has appeared on TV news shows in the Philippines and even guested as a special performer on Wish Bus 107.5 Reniel Idos has alos starred on Philippine Television. Bevs Saraza is currently the only member of the group who has competed on national television, at Canada’s Got Talent.
- A Pilgrimage Amidst Turmoil: In October 2023, Don Torres was en route to a Catholic pilgrimage in Israel when war broke out. Despite the turmoil, he safely completed the pilgrimage and made it to Italy before returning home to Canada.
- Perfect Pitch: Founder Rodney Ronquillo has the rare ability of perfect pitch, which allows him to recognize and identify musical notes without using an instrument. This skill helps him compose, arrange, and produce music, including orchestral performances, with accuracy and efficiency.
- Shared History in Competition: Members Jhoana and Ryan were once competitors in a singing contest where Rodney Ronquillo served as one of the judges.
- Television Appearances: In addition to Antoinette Targa, other members such as Ryan Orlanda and Marvs Fuentes have both appeared on major television networks in the Philippines, including GMA and ABS-CBN, showcasing their talents as music artists. Ryan has also acted in many television shows.
- Artistic Talents: In addition to his musical expertise, Rodney Ronquillo has been trained in the fine art of Chinese watercolor painting, showcasing his creativity across multiple disciplines.
- Acting Training: Chyrell Ronquillo and Ryan Orlanda have both been trained in professional acting under sought-after Award-Winning Filipino Director Rahyan Carlos at Star Magic (ABS-CBN Philippines) and AMP Studios (Canada), learning the renowned Chubbuck Technique, a method widely used in the industry (such as Hollywood) for character development and performance.
- Sing-a-like champion: JR Teodoro was a former singing champion for the Gary Valenciano singing contests.