The power will be in the hands of the audience at the Jan. 19 Creston’s Best Singer audition show, which will see up to 30 singers compete for 20 spots in the semifinals.
The first 250 audience members through the Prince Charles Theatre doors will receive a scorecard so they can rank their top picks to move on to the Feb. 9 show — and the winner of that will move on to the regional contest in June.
“I really wanted to get the audience involved in the decision,” said producer Vern Gorham. “It gives the community a chance to make sure their favourites are in the 20 who will be performing for out-of-town judges next month.”
This is the third annual Creston’s Best Singer contest, and the second time he’s held an audition show that has the audience participating. As with last year’s auditions, the winners will be announced on Feb. 1 at www.ilovecreston.com, and in the February issue of I Love Creston.
Gorham said that the audition show will feature several new faces, as well as some of last year’s competitors.
“It’s great to see that some of the singers, even though they didn’t win, still had fun and want to try it again,” said Gorham. “But they’ll certainly be given a run for their money by newcomers.”
Tickets to the Jan. 19 show, which starts at 6:30 p.m., are $8 for adults and $6 for students, seniors and children, available in advance at Black Bear Books and Kingfisher Used Books, or $10 at the door.
For more information on the contest series, visit kootenaysbestsinger.com.