The competition is over for 10 talented young singers who participated in the 2011 South Cariboo Idol contest.
Niki Watson, 17, was named the winner, claiming a cash prize of $2,500. Miranda Pettitt, 16, finished as the runner-up with $1,200 in winnings, and Josslyn Ryan, 16, was third and took home $1,000.
Fans choice came down to a tie between Alyssa Lindberg, 17, and Catie Smith, 20. While all of remaining seven participants received $350 apiece, Lindberg and Alyssa were awarded an extra $100 as their bonus prize.
The announcement, and their final Idol performances came on Sept. 11, at the close of the South Cariboo Community Fall Fair.
Judging was a long-term process, from May to September, done by a panel that included Larry Rode, Bev Fry, Cindy Fetzner, Denny Fahrentholz and Terry Larum.
They followed and assessed the Idols as they performed at more than a half dozen during that period.
Contest organizer Rob Fry says the judges had a difficult job.
“They are all so very talented this year and I’m glad that I’m not a judge.”
Watson, a three-season veteran of the competition, says she was surprised with the final results.
“I was pretty excited when I won. Miranda and Josslyn are both amazing singers and I thought it would be one of them.”
Smith plans to attend university in the future and study to be a voice teacher rather than pursue a singing career. She says being involved in the contest was a huge growing experience for her and suggests that others shouldn’t think twice about entering next year.
“I can’t believe how much it helped to develop my voice. It really gave me something to work towards because you’re always preparing for a performance.”
Smith says she made a lot of new friends by getting involved with the contest.
“It gets you into a group that you wouldn’t normally hang out with and you end up feeling like a big family. I’m sad to leave them.”
Fry, who is also owner of Caribooradio.com, has been co-ordinating the competition since 2007 and says he’s always sad when it comes to and end. He still plans to work with the Idols in his recording studio during the coming months and give them airplay on his Internet radio station.
While the contest has traditionally been exclusive to South Cariboo vocalists, Fry says that in 2012, it will be renamed Cariboo Idol and will be opened up to vocalists in Williams Lake.
“I expect it to become more competitive in the coming years.”
