A photo taken at the 2019-2020 Search for the Stars workshop. (Submitted photo/EA Rawlinson Centre for the Arts)

By Dawson Thompson

Prince Albert's next top talent

Search for the Stars returns to Prince Albert

Nov 2, 2020 | 2:04 PM

Search for the Stars, Prince Albert’s foremost youth talent competition will be returning for another year at the EA Rawlinson Centre for the Arts.

Auditions will be held Sunday, Nov. 8 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. online auditions will be accepted this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. The deadline to submit your video is Thursday, Nov. 5.

The competition is a talent show searching for the best performers aged 8 to 18 from across northern Saskatchewan. Performers compete solo, as a duo, or a band, and are judged in different age categories including junior eight to 10, intermediate 11 to 14, senior 15 to 18, and singer/songwriter 15 to 18.

Three artists from around Saskatchewan will judge the auditions and pick the best performances to send through to the showcase on January 24. The judges will also be mentors to the performers, giving lessons to them about everything they may need to know about a career in the entertainment industry. This year’s judges are Derek Melchart, who has been touring professionally since 1993, Paul Lomheim, a musician from Saskatoon, and Eekwol, a hip-hop artist from Saskatoon.

Cara Stelmaschuk, events coordinator at the Rawlinson says the competition will be educational for the performers.

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“The cast members get to attend workshops with the judges,” Stelmaschuk said. “The workshop itself will be priceless. It will be one of the biggest prizes, getting the experience and professional oversight from three people who do this for a living.”

During the workshops the contestants will learn how to produce a show from Paul Lomheim, stage etiquette, touring, and how to professionally act with bands from Derek Melchart. They will also learn how to write a song, and breaking into the industry from Eekwol.

“Between these three judges I think the students are going to walk away with a lot of really good advice and a lot confidence,” Stelmaschuk said.

Music lessons have been quite difficult to arrange and attend this year due to COVID-19. Search for the Stars will be a great opportunity for young artists who love to perform to get back on stage again.

“It’s an important developmental event any year,” Stelmaschuk explained. “Its not their music teacher putting on an event, or a recital, its something they auditioned for and got in on their own merit.

“This event is going to be important for kids who love music and want the chance to perform. There are so many kids in Prince Albert where if there is a stage, they want to be on it. This is an event where we can accommodate that.”

Paul Lomheim says he is looking forward to helping out and enjoying the event.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the new talent. Over the years it has been like a conveyor belt. There’s always been hidden talent coming in,” Lomheim said. “I am hoping I can help out and give some direction so they can keep getting better.”

The winner of the singer/songwriter category, ages 15 to 18 will win a credit note to reservoir recording to take the song they performed and have it recorded for a professionally produced demo.

Workshop Days: Friday, Jan. 22 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 23 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Band Rehearsal: Saturday, Jan. 23 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Showcase Date: Sunday, Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

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Dawson.thompson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: dawsonthompson8