Roselle Nava had never thought of setting up her own music school. After all, she took up Marketing Management at De La Salle University, and knew nothing about music except that she loves to sing.

But with the encouragement of people around her, she decided to put up her school, Muzik Konzert, last year at BF Homes in Parañaque. It was in summer this year that she opened her branch on Visayas Avenue, Quezon City. Her manager Baby Pacheco and Allen, Roselle's boyfriend of eight years, are her partners.  

She has a manager who runs the Parañaque branch, while she personally looks after the business in Quezon City. Her next target? To have another branch in San Pedro, Laguna, her hometown.

STARTING YOUNG. It will come as a surprise that Roselle's first love is not singing. As a kid, she took more pleasure in dancing for her aunt and uncle during parties and different occasions.

But the karaoke was the "in" thing in the ‘80s, and that's how she discovered her talent in singing. "Di ba usong-uso? My dad bought one," she related. "Iba kasi yung pag bata ko, try ko yung microphone. Siguro doon na siya nag-start. Na-in love ako sa singing."

Roselle also mentioned how the popular singing contest hosted by Pilita Corrales and the late Bert Marcelo ignited her desire to become a singer.

"Mayroon akong classmate na sumali sa Bagong Kampeon, so siyempre parang...kung yung best friend mo, sumali sa Bagong Kampeon, ‘Daddy, tingnan mo siya...'" Next thing she knew, she was having her voice lessons.

Roselle said she started at age 10. "I took up voice classes under different schools—Center for Pop, Trumpets, Ryan Cayabyab, 'saka mga independent coaches. My dad was pushing me to keep on learning and learning."

The training helped her overcome her shyness. "Noong banding huli, hindi mo na ako maawat mag-perform," she said.

Just like most aspiring singers, Roselle joined amateur singing contests.

"Naranasan ko pa sumali sa isang contest na hindi kabisado ng banda. I gave them a song, 'Isang Lahi.' Bago pa lang yung song that time. Hindi kabisado ng banda. Kinakanta ko yung 'Isang Lahi,' tinutugtog nila. Pero siyempre, paano ka makakanta kung kinakapa ng banda yung tugtog. So, iyak ako ng iyak after singing. Sabi ko, ‘mali yung tugtog, mali yung tugtog,'"the former Ang TV kid recalled.

And the lesson she now imparts to the students in her school is that one must be prepared for anything that happens.

BECOMING A FAMOUS SINGER. Roselle's entry into showbiz took the long and winding road. She was already 16 years old when she began appearing on the defunct ABS-CBN show Ang TV.

Roselle notes that kids are luckier these days, given all the reality-based talent shows.

"During our time, parang sumusuot ka sa butas ng karayom. Ngayon, kapag nanalo ka, may album ka kaagad. Noon, kahit na nagka-hit ako ng maraming songs, hindi ko pa nararanasan magka-concert sa Araneta. Unlike now, isang hit mo, puwede ka nang mag-show sa Araneta. Iba-iba siyempre," she said wistfully.