VOTN is chance of a lifetime for performers

Prince Albert’s Voices of the North (VOTN) auditions have left many anxious performers hoping for a phone call.

VOTN hosted auditions at Lucky’s Bar and Grill on Saturday and Sunday, for their performance in February.

The producer, Sheryl Kimbley said these auditions attract performers from Ontario, the Northwest Territories, Alberta, Manitoba and of course all across Saskatchewan.

After watching certain performances, Kimbley said the show will be new and exciting this year.

“We [saw] a really, really amazing young rapper the other day that had almost everybody in tears,” said Kimbley.

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She said the rapper’s song was about the struggles youth are facing and how to overcome them.

Kimbley said she was honoured to meet someone who travelled a long way just for the opportunity to audition.

“We [saw] a young man travel all the way from St. Paul, Alberta who really struck a chord with us and let us know that nothing like what we’re doing is happening in Alberta,” said Kimbley.

Kimbley said the amount of talent and dedication to travel is overwhelming.

Each performer spends their own money, just for one shot at being picked for the top 12 or 14 finalists.

“We try to make sure were representing as many different communities as we can, [and] as many different genres of music,” said Kimbley. “We try to make sure were pleasing a varied audience.”

Among one of the around 61 performers to audition on the Sunday was John J. Cook.

Cook remembers the exact day he started singing. It was Mar.19, 1999. Since then he auditioned for VOTN in 2007 and made the final cut. He said the show was ‘one of the most memorable events of his life.’

This audition meant a lot to this veteran performer.

“I’m a musician and I find that it’s a really good platform to promote your music,” said Cook. “If you get picked you get heard right across Saskatchewan.”

Cook said it would be ‘gratifying’ to be selected.

“If you get picked it’s like winning an award, ” said Cook.

Kimbley said about 90 per cent of singers auditioning are new to the VOTN auditions.

This year was the second time Rozanna Seeseequasis tried out. She said she has been singing since she was 10 years old, but she wasn’t comfortable performing in public, until recently.

“I finally broke out of my shell last year,” said Seeseequasis.  “[However] I’m still very nervous it’s kind of still hard to come out in public to do this in front of everybody.”

You could hear the excitement in her voice as she said what it would be like to be picked as a finalist.

“Oh wow, that would be so awesome,” said Seeseequasis. “I would probably have a little mini heart attack if they called me.”

The VOTN is also looking for a youth to take under their wing.

“We try to pick at least one youth performer that gets the chance to perform with us and we mentor them through the year,” said Kimbley.

If there is more than one who tries out, the ones who aren’t chosen are sent to Northern Spirits. Kimbley said this is a group where they can hone their skills and maybe make the VOTN the next year.

 She said it’s important they have a mixture of great performances.

“This is Prince Albert we’re representing, this is aboriginal talent that were representing and I think all the people that pay the good money to come and watch us, deserve the very best,” said Kimbley.

The show runs from Feb. 12 -14, 2015 at the Prince Albert Exhibition Centre.

kbruch@panow.com

On Twitter : @KaylaBruch1