It took three tries, but Victoria Bowns finally made it to the top, being named the winner of Creston’s Best Singer last night, with Ben Lansing and Marybeth Stenhouse placing just behind her.
It was Bowns’ third time in the contest, having competed in the 2011 and 2012 editions, and making it to third place last year.
“It’s the cherry on top of the cake,” the 16-year-old said.
But that cake is about to get a bit bigger for her. The Creston win means she will compete in the regional Kootenays’ Best Singer contest in June, going up against the top two winners of contests in Nelson and Grand Forks, as well as the winners of upcoming Cranbrook, Kimberley, Fernie, Trail and Castlegar contests.
Lansing, who earned second place for his baritone renditions of Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire and Josh Turner’s Your Man, will join her at the regionals. And if either of them is unable to attend, the third-place Stenhouse, who sang Put Your Records On and Mercy, will take their place.
Ten singers competed in the final round, cut down from 20 three weeks earlier. Matt Hansen — first in Creston and second in the Kootenays last year —Erin Collison, Taya Blackmore, Nora Blackmore, Lexi Ducharme, Sierra Blackmore and Teresa Rohbock also competed, giving Bowns a run for her money.
“There were so many good people,” she said.
The singers, who received votes from the audience in the previous three rounds in January and February, were judged by Cranbrook’s Robyn Graham and Rachel Willisson, along with Trena Speers, who won the regional contest last June, and performed a song written by contest producer Vern Gorham for the Creston audience.
Bowns said she’s been singing since she could talk, and began writing her own music at 13. In addition to a cover, she also sang Time, a song she wrote that showcased her vocal range.
“I always worry about things,” she said about writing the song. “I thought, if I think positively and take the time to enjoy everything, I’ll find out where I want to go.”
