Aicelle Santos
Santos in 2024
Born	Aicelle Anne Coronel Santos (1985-02-24)February 24, 1985 (age 40) Manila, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Occupations	Singer songwriter pianist actress
Years active	2003–present
Agent	Sparkle GMA Artist Center (2007–present)
Spouse	Mark Zambrano ​ (m. 2019)​ [1]
Children	2
Musical career
Genres	Pop soul R&B
Labels	GMA Music
Musical artist

Aicelle Anne Coronel Santos-Zambrano (born February 24, 1985) is aFilipino singer, songwriter,pianist and actress who first emerged in thePhilippine music scene as a contestant inStar in a Million. She has been known as the "First UndefeatedPinoy Pop Superstar", when she achieved eight straight wins inGMA Network'sPinoy Pop Superstar.

At the age of six, Aicelle Santos or "AA" receivedabecedarian musical training at the St. Theresa's College Quezon City, and theUniversity of the Philippines College of Music for piano. The early training allowed Santos to indulge in her original dream to become a famous pianist. However, a shift in focus took place as she realized she would rather be a famous singer than be a known pianist. Aicelle's inspiration on the field came fromWalt Disney's characterAriel from the movieThe Little Mermaid. The movie's theme song "Part of Your World" was the first song Santos memorized, which she also performed during her elementary school programs.

While still at her first year of college at thePamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Santos joinedABS-CBN's Season 1 ofStar in a Million (2003), her first take on a nationwide televised singing competition. The competition opened many doors for Aicelle. Although she sometimes struggled, she eventually struck a balance between attending university and focusing on her blossoming singing career.

Santos took advantage of the minor fame that herStar in a Million appearance gave her and showcased her talents on top performers' settings with a new acoustic group Dream Sequence. Dream Sequence proved to be a success on its own right, and brought its three members to many cities around the Philippines. The Metro's prime stages Bagaberde, Chef and Brewer, Phi Bar, Fiesta San Miguel in Dusit, E's Bar in Edsa Shangri-La, and others became the group's main performing stages. The nightly gigs are believed to have been Aicelle's training ground for improving her vocal and stage performance.

On January 4, 2016, Santos interpreted "Dinggin Mo Oh Dios" which was composed by Cris Bautista inA Song of Praise Music Festival year 4, a gospel songwriting competition, inUNTV withReymond Sajor, Leah Patricio,Rachelle Ann Go,Frencheska Farr,Jonalyn Viray,Rita De Guzman, RJ Buena &Kyla.

In 2018, Santos bid farewell to fans as she will be leaving for United Kingdom to star as Gigi Van Tranh in the hit musicalMiss Saigon.

In 2005, Santos once again decided to aim for a solo singing career by joining the second season ofPinoy Pop Superstar. An eight-straight win during preliminaries put Santos on top and on the show's history, as the first 'Undefeated Superstar.' She showcased her wide vocal range on her performances of:

• "All The Man That I Need" – Week 1
• "I Need You" – Week 2
• "Natural Woman" – Week 3
• "A House Is Not a Home" – Week 4
• "Respect" – Week 5
• "Summertime" – Week 6
• "A Song for You" – Week 7
• "Man in the Mirror" – Week 8

Santos got into the finals favored to win. On PPS's season finale, Aicelle Santos claimed first runner-up and signed arecord deal and an exclusive management contract under GMA Artist Center. Her story inPinoy Pop Superstar is somehow related toSheryn Regis.^[2]

Santos possesses the vocal range of a lyriccontralto, spanning three full octaves (from the lowest note of Bb2 to the highest note of Bb5).

Santos won "Best Performance of Own Country Song" representing the Philippines inAstana Music Festival in Kazakhstan. Santos bested delegates from 13 countries around the world, including Mexico, Peru, Finland, Romania, Latvia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Tajikistan, Lithuania, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malta, and China. Her winning piece was entitled "Bakit Di Subukan", aVehnee Saturno composition which is a Tagalog-English song ("If We Just Hold On" in English). Following this triumph was Aicelle's recognition for "People's Choice Best New Female Artist" in the 2007 Awit Awards.

In 2007, Santos is visible in the Philippines recording scene with her debut albumMake Me Believe, a 14-cut album underGMA Records. "Ikaw Pa Rin" is her hit single in the charts.

In 2008, she joined fellowPinoy Pop Superstar contestantsJona andMaricris Garcia to form the musical groupLa Diva.

On February 25, 2015, Santos held her first solo concert, Class A, at the PETA Theatre.^[3] On the same year, she released the music video of her latest single Kapangyarihan ng Pag-ibig.

In 2012, Santos auditioned and was part of the shortlist for the 2014 West End revival ofMiss Saigon.^[4]

In 2013, she debuted in the theatrical scene by portraying the role of Katy inKaty! the Musical. She also stars inRak of Aegis where she plays the lead character, Aileen (alternating withKim Molina). The musical had several runs but Aicelle continues to play the role till present.^[5] Aicelle won Best Actress in a Musical in the 2014 Aliw Awards for her performance in Rak of Aegis.^[6]

In 2015, Santos had a special participation in the musical entitledSabel: Love and Passion.

In 2017, she played Perla in the musical adaptation ofManila in the Claws of Light and won the 2017Aliw Award for Best Actress in a Featured Role.^[7][8]

In 2018, Santos played Elsa in the second revival ofHimala: Isang Musikal, based on the 1982 film starringNora Aunor. She is set to play the role of Gigi in the UK/Ireland tour ofMiss Saigon.^[9]

On May 6, 2023, Santos was part of the one-night staging ofLarawan asContra Mundum, a grand tribute concert to kick off National Heritage Month and to mark 50 years of the establishment of the Philippine's Order of National Artists. She played Candida in Act 2.^[10]

Santos married her boyfriend of three years, former broadcast journalist Mark Zambrano, on November 16, 2019 inSan Juan, Batangas.^[11] In June 2020, Santos announced on anInstagram post that she and Zambrano were expecting their first child, due in December.^[12]

• Make Me Believe (2007)
• Liwanag (2015)

• "Ikaw Pa Rin" (2007)
• "Make Me Believe" (2007)
• "Kapangyarihan ng Pag-Ibig" (2015)
• "Liwanag" (2016)
• "Palaging Ikaw" (2017)

• "Tayong Dalawa" (2006)(fromBakekang)
• "Maghihintay" (2007)(fromImpostora)
• "I'll Never Go" (withGian Magdangal) (2013)(fromMy Lady Boss)
• "Paliparin ang Pangarap" (withMaricris Garcia) (2013)(fromAdarna)
• "Liyab" (2014)(fromNiño)
• "Be With You" (2015)(fromThe Rich Man's Daughter)
• "Nasaan" (with Maricris Garcia) (2015)(fromBeautiful Strangers)
• "Hanggang Makita Kang Muli" (2016)(from thetheme song of same teleserye)
• "Sa Lahat ng Iba" (with Hannah Precillas) (2016)(fromIka-6 na Utos)
• "Kumapit Ka Lang" (2017)(fromTadhana)
• "Haplos" (2017)(fromHaplos)
• "Nasa Iyong Tabi" (2017)(fromSuper Ma'am)
• "Bahagi Ko ng Langit (2018)(fromThe Stepdaughters)
• "Panata sa Bayan" (2019)(from Eleksyon 2019 and Eleksyon 2022 Coverages ofGMA News)
• "Bakit Siya?" (with Maricris Garcia) (2019)(fromThe Better Woman)
• "Ikaw ang Aking Daigdig" (2022) (fromUnica Hija)

• The Pinoy Pop Superstar Year 2 Contenders' Album (2006)
  • Track 3: All the Man That I Need
• Mga Awit mula sa Puso, Vol. 2 (2006)
  • Track 3: "Tayong Dalawa"
• Mga Awit Kapuso, Vol. 4 (2008)
  • Track 3: "Marimar"
  • The Best of Mga Awit Kapuso (2009)
  • Track 10: "Tayong Dalawa"
• GMA Records No.1 Hits (2013)
  • Track: "Ikaw Pa Rin"(withJanno Gibbs)
• Take1: the Best of Awit Kapuso Originals (2013)
  • Track 9: "Marimar"
• Versions 7.1 (2014)
  • Track 2: "All the Man That I Need"

As herself

As actress

• Jona
• Carla Humphries
• Maricris Garcia
• Bryan Termulo
• Jan Nieto
• Gian Magdangal

• Media related toAicelle Santos at Wikimedia Commons
• Aicelle Santos Online
• Aicelle Multimedia at YouTube
• Aicelle Santos atIMDb
• Sparkle GMA Artist Center profile

• 1985 births
• Living people
• Actresses from Manila
• Contraltos
• Filipino dance musicians
• Filipino musical theatre actresses
• Filipino television actresses
• Filipino women pop singers
• GMA Music artists
• GMA Network (company) people
• Filipino television variety show hosts
• Filipino women television presenters
• Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila alumni
• Participants in Philippine reality television series
• Singers from Manila

• Webarchive template wayback links
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use Philippine English from February 2023
• All Wikipedia articles written in Philippine English
• Use mdy dates from January 2020
• Articles with hCards
• Commons category link from Wikidata