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Just singing...

The gymnasium at Vermilion Forks School was full with an audience that consisted of the entire school of staff and students who had come to watch and listen as this year’s ‘Vermilion Idol’ contestants took to the stage. Seventeen brave souls had warmed their voices up backstage. All seventeen were hoping to make it through to the next round. Three acts would be cut before the afternoon was over.
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Judge rates the boys’ performance Judge Shar Anderson took the opportunity to judge the show’s surprise act from these Grade 7 students even though they weren’t in the Vermilion Idol contest

The gymnasium at Vermilion Forks School was full with an audience that consisted of the entire school of staff and students who had come to watch and listen as this year’s ‘Vermilion Idol’ contestants took to the stage. Seventeen brave souls had warmed their voices up backstage. All seventeen were hoping to make it through to the next round. Three acts would be cut before the afternoon was over.

Judges Shar Anderson and Dave Brum were the two veteran judges. They knew some new talent was waiting to be discovered and they knew that some of last year’s finalists were back and would be better than ever. “You will have to watch and listen,” said Mrs. Anderson to the packed gym as the afternoon talent took to the stage one after the other, “This is week one. These singers will just get better week after week.”

If week one is any indication, the weeks to follow should be exciting. There were two duets, one by Kelcie Holland Krenn and Taylor White, and the other by Jessie Turcotte and Nadine Paquette. All the rest of the day’s performances were solos. Kate Allison, Laurenne Koller, Mylee Coyne, Shayna Krenn, Taneesha Beaupre, Kateri Barnes, Katelyn Bartlet, Thyme Callihoo, Shyanne Cosman, Jade Marko, Megan Mintzler and Brooklyn Knopf all did their best to hold their nerves in check and belt out their rendition of their chosen song.

Return performers Kateri Barnes and Laurenne Koller did not disappoint. In fact, this year veteran performer Kateri mentored some of the up and coming singers by offering to standby while the less experienced singers took to the stage. If the singers faltered, Kateri was there to sing along and keep the rookies on track with her moral and vocal support. Grade 4 student, Brooklyn Knopf, turned out to be the “dark horse” of the competition, said Mrs. Anderson. Knopf sang a Leon Lewis song with a surprising clarity and vibrancy that surprised and delighted the judges. All in all it was a good day with many singers who were able to push through their fears and show not just their talent, but their bravery to sing in front of such a large crowd.