Samuel Lawrence Lopez Concepcion (born October 17, 1992) in Manila, Philippines, is a

Filipinosinger, dancer, actor, host and fashion model. He emerged as the winner for the Big Division of Little Big Star's Season 1 in April 2006. He currently has a contract under STAGES and ABS-CBN's

Star Magic. Concepcion started on a total of 12 theater roles and had various plays even at a young age, including the role of Edmund Pevensie in the local stage adaptation of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and Mr. Noah���s Big Boat. He has been in the role of Peter Pan from 2002 until 2012. Aside from theater roles, he has acted in movies including Way Back Home and Shake, Rattle & Roll 13. He acted in his first lead role on 2012 in the first Filipino musical-film entitled, I Do Bidoo Bidoo: Heto nAPO Sila!. He had his first role in television in ABS-CBN's Mga Anghel na Walang Langit, and his major break as Boy Bawang in the fantasy series Super Inggo.

In 2007, Concepcion launched his self-titled album under Universal Records, which was certified Gold by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry. He also launched two other albums Pop Class (2010), and Forever Young (2011). The latter was his biggest hit, hitting the charts at Number 1 for seven weeks in a row. In 2008, Concepcion was chosen by Dreamworks to sing the theme song of the animated movie, Kung Fu Panda, entitled, Kung Fu Fighting which was included in the Asian soundtrack album. With this project, Concepcion is the first Filipino artist to have collaborated with Dreamworks.

Concepcion has been an ambassador for many agencies and organizations. He was appointed by the

Department of Education as "Youth Role Model and Spokesperson" and National Book Development Board���s (NBDB) Get Caught Reading campaign ambassador in 2007. In 2008, Concepcion was

appointed by the Business Software Alliance as the Official Spokesperson of the Philippines for

"B4USurf", "Youth Ambassador for Education and the Arts" in the 3rd District of Manila and

World Vision's "Ambassador for Children".

Concepcion was also given a representative role by the Department of Tourism to the Korea World

Travel Fair (2006). He was also chosen by the Philippine government to sing in front of the President

of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and top world economic leaders during APEC's "Business Advisory Council Gala" Opening. He was awarded by the United Nations Youth Association of the

Philippines the prestigious UNAP Outstanding Youth Leader award given in Malacañan Palace in 2009.

Career

1997-1999: Discovery and theater roles

As early as two years old, Concepcion was already able to carry a tune and dance to simple songs. At five years old, he had his first public performance at a worship cantata which later

landed him the role of the young Jose Rizal in a stage play entitled, Sino Ka Ba, Jose

Rizal?. During the play, he was discovered by David Cosico, a talent manager, who then

encouraged Concepcion to sign up with S.T.A.G.E.S and enroll in Trumpets Playshop

music theatre class to further hone his talents and potential. Concepcion already had various plays under his name, as early as nine years of age. This included the role of Edmund

 Pevensie in the local stage adaptation of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, 'Peter Pan and the Time Machine and Mr. Noah���s Big Boat. Aside from theatre plays,

Concepcion also appeared on television through a commercial featuring him and his real-life dad in Maggi Sinigang sa Miso. He also appeared on various shows for children on

 ABS-CBN, such as Sineskwela and Hirayamanawari. Concepcion even had a regular

hosting stint on ABC-5���s A.S.T.I.G. (All Set To Imitate God), a show about God made for

children.

Concepcion���s musical influences include Gary Valenciano, Michael Jackson, Justin

Timberlake, Chris Brown, Billy Crawford and Christian Bautista. In fact, Concepcion was

even invited to guest in two of Christian Bautista���s concerts namely, Dunkin Donuts:

Color Everywhere on March 2005 and Heartfelt on November 2005.

2005-2006:Little Big Star championship and career beginnings

Concepcion's major television exposure came through Little Big Star, a singing competition on ABS-CBN hosted by Sarah Geronimo, which searched for young singing talents.He was

initially dubbed as the Singing Crush ng Bayan throughout the duration of show as he

became the crowd���s favorite. In fact, he was awarded the My Favorite Star Award for

having the most number of votes from viewers, garnering 52% of the total votes, the

biggest vote that graces the competition. During the Grand Finals, Concepcion sang I Can't Stand Still from Footloose, one of STAGES��� musical productions. He eventually won the

whole competition with the title, The Brightest Star for the Big Division over major

competitors, Gian Barbarona and Charice.In 2006, even before winning the title in

Little Big Star, Concepcion was offered endorsements and projects already. His first

endorsement came from Bench, a local clothing line in the Philippines. With regard to

projects, Concepcion took part in ABS-CBN's primetime shows, and first appeared on a

drama series, Mga Anghel na Walang Langit, where he played a minor role. His first major

role was in the fantasy series, Super Inggo as Boy Bawang. After winning the competition, Concepcion joined ASAP '06 where he became part of the group, Three-O, with Aldred

Gatchalian and Aaron Agassi. The group was later disbanded when Agassi decided to leave. He was also given his first starring role when he was featured on Your Song with Empress

Schuck as part of the networks' Christmas offering. The same Your Song episode was again shown in 2007.

On June 2006, Concepcion, along with other Trumpets Playshop talents were tasked by the Philippines' Department of Tourism to represent the country for the Korea World Travel

Fair. Their team brought home the Best Folk Performance Award. On the same month,

Concepcion was also chosen by the Philippine government to sing in front of the President

of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and top world economic leaders during APEC's

Business Advisory Council Gala Opening.On July of the same year, he won Nickelodeon's

Pinoy Wannabe Award with 40% of the total votes, which made the youngest and sole male recipient of the award. On September 2006, Concepcion posed as the magazine���s cover for the first time through Candy magazine. On that same issue, he was also announced as the Top Candy Cutie for 2006. He has held the title for three consecutive years already that no other local celebrity has held since. On October 2006, Sam had his first concert via a back-

to-back birthday celebration with Christian Bautista.

2007-2008:Self-titled album, ambassador roles and stage plays

After Super Inggo (2006), Concepcion���s next major television project was Walang Kapalit, a television series starring Claudine Barretto and Piolo Pascual.He portrayed the young Noel, who was latter

portrayed by Pascual. Aside from acting, Concepcion also got to voice dub for the local anime

network, Hero TV, as the voice of Koyuki, the protagonist of the Japanese musical anime, Beck.

On June 2007, Concepcion went back to theater after his hiatus due to his major television career. He

played Troy Bolton in the stage musical of Disney's High School Musical.The whole production

reaped critical success by the press and critics that the musical was extended for two more weeks.

On September 2007, Concepcion launched his first solo album, self-titled under Universal Records.The album contains 11 tracks with three lead singles. His first single was Even If is a revived song from the American boy band 2Be3.His second single is a Jackson 5 hit, Happy.The last single from the album, I'll Find Your Heart becomes a success topping various charts of MYX Philippines.The album was

later certified Gold by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry.

On the same month, Concepcion was appointed by the Philippine Department of Education as the

Youth Role Model and Spokesperson. Being its Ambassador for Education, Concepcion was tasked

onto a nationwide school tour, dubbed as, SAMa-SAMa sa Eskwela, that aimed to encourage students across the country to prioritize their education while reaching for their aspirations. Having joined many

government campaigns like "Go Negosyo," and "Anti-Smoking Campaign of the World Health

Organization," Dep Ed National Director Joey Pelaez is amazed at Sam���s drawing power among the

youth.He also becomes one of the National Book Development Board���s (NBDB) Get Caught Reading campaign ambassadors in 2007.

2008-2009: Contract with Star Magic, awards and solo concerts

On February 2008, Concepcion became part of ABS-CBN's Star Magic, with a co-management

contract with STAGES.He was launched as Star Magic's newest talent on ASAP '08. Concepcion was

then appointed by the Business Software Alliance as the Official Spokesperson of the Philippines for

B4USurf, an Asian-wide campaign that aimed to promote safe internet use. In addition, Concepcion is

still the Youth Ambassador for Education and the Arts in the 3rd District of Manila during that time.

For the campaign, he launched his PaperClay Art Competition at the Manila Ocean Park with a theme, "Ako Para sa Kalikasan".On May 2008, Concepcion was chosen by Dreamworks to sing the theme

song of the animated movie, Kung Fu Panda, entitled, Kung Fu Fighting which was included in the

Asian soundtrack album. With this project, Concepcion is the first Filipino artist to have collaborated

with Dreamworks.

Concepcion won "Favorite New Artist" in the 3rd MYX Music Awards held on March 2008. This win

made him the youngest winner for the said category as he garnered 61% of the total votes.On 2009,

Concepcion then went on to win the Top Teen Male Entertainer award in the first Pure & Fresh Top

Teens Awards.On August 2009, Concepcion was awarded by the United Nations Youth Association of the Philippines the prestigious UNAP Outstanding Youth Leader award for his positive achievements in the Entertainment category.The awards night was held on August 7, 2009 at the Malacañan Palace with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as its guest of honor.

Aside from album releases, theater roles, and ambassador roles. Concepcion returned to doing regular

television shows on August 2008 through the remake of a Colombian series, I ��� Betty La Fea which starred Bea Alonzo. He played the character of Andrew, Betty���s younger brother who wanted to become a celebrity for his family's sake.He was also included on a TV5 show, Lipgloss, where he played Kyle,

the show���s main protagonist. But during the run of its second season, Concepcion left the show. He

was then added to a group called GiggerBoys in ASAP together with Enchong Dee, Robi Domingo, the late AJ Perez, Arron Villaflor, Dino Imperial, and Chris Gutierrez.The group was then launched in acting wherein Concepcion played the character of Bobet, the optimist of the group, in Your Song Presents:

Boystown in 2009.Soon after, Concepcion, together with 40 Star Magic artists, flew into the United

States for the Star Magic World Concert Tour held in Ontario, Canada and San Francisco. Due to the abrupt passing of Michael Jackson, the artists prepared a tribute, in which Concepcion carried the role of the King of Pop with his trademark moves and singing.

Concepcion staged his first major solo concert dubbed as I'll Find Your Heart held at the Music Museum on October 2008.The concert also celebrates his 16th birtdhay. On that same month, Concepcion

was launched as the Ambassador for Children for World Vision.As its Ambassador, he encouraged

Filipinos to help send the less-fortunate children to school.He also held various advocacies in Palawan, Cagayan de Oro and other provinces.Later in the year, Concepcion also held a free Christmas concert

sponsored by Dunkin Donuts at the CCP open grounds. On May 2009, Concepcion held another major concert entitled, I'll Find Your Heart: Part 2 held at the Crossroads77 Convenarium in Quezon City.

The concert-for-cause helped raise funds for Aim Christian Learning Center.

On 2009, Concepcion becomes endorser for various local products such as Bench, Skechers, Karate

Kid Restaurant, Smart and Tang Fruit Teaz. Karate Kid, a restaurant which already expanded in different branches nationwide, contracted Concepcion as the company���s first and sole celebrity endorser.In addition, Concepcion continues all of his responsibilities as ambassadors for many organizations and

agencies.

On September 2009 marked Concepcion's return to theater after his last musical back in 2007. He was

cast as the Narrator, who also doubles as God, in N.O.A.H. [No Ordinary Aquatic Habitat].By October 2009, Concepcion was hailed Candy's Top Celeb Cutie for the fourth consecutive time. On November 2009, he was hailed by the Consumers League of the Philippines Foundation the Dangal ng Pilipinas

for Best Promising Male Young Singer Performer award.