The 2015 Cariboo Idols have at least two more performances before their season winds up with individual recording sessions.
This year’s group of singers representing the best of local, non-professional talent has already boasted a spring and summer of stellar performances.
These include appearing at the Cariboo Women’s Fair and the District of 100 Mile House 50th Anniversary celebration, at the Performances in the (Boitanio) Park in Williams Lake, and most recently, at the South Cariboo Garlic Festival in Lac la Hache (Aug. 29).
These gifted vocalists are Justine Hama, Diane Laukkanen, Gary Seminoff, Britta Westerager, Tyrell Norton, Shania Parks, Chelsea Herperger and Jazmine Storvold.
Storvold is a past winner, and Westerager and Norton were among last year’s group. Seminoff is new to the Idols, but has been performing since the late 1980s.
Organizer Rob Fry says they are all gaining experience in performing for larger live audiences while they support and promote local causes.
“Some of them have never been in front of an audience of any size, so it gives them an opportunity to get out there and get rid of ‘the butterflies’ that come with doing that.
“And, at the same time, they get recognized as community supporters and volunteers helping out at events and things like that.”
This is good for the younger performers especially and good for the community in having up-and-coming youth volunteers in the face of increasing needs due to aging and tiring community supporters, he explains.
Fry adds upcoming Idol performances include the West Fraser Mills 60th Anniversary Celebration in Centennial Park (Sept. 13), and their final showcase of 2015 will see them back in the park during the Kidney Walk (Sept. 27).
Each Cariboo Idol will then receive an honorarium for his or her participation and have the opportunity to record a song at New Age Studio before the end of the year.
“That is all courtesy of the Cariboo Idol sponsors; that support is what makes it all possible.”
More information and a list of sponsors are on the Facebook page for Cariboo Idol 2015.
