YTV's talent search show "The Next Star," in its third season, will for the first time stop in St. John's Saturday. The show is a reality series that seeks out and shapes Canada's future singing stars, aged 15 and younger.
Unlike similar shows, this one claims to focus on mentoring new talent - not eliminations.
This year's cast of music industry veterans includes singer/musician Suzie McNeil (of CBS reality show "Rock Star: INXS" fame), Juno award-winning songwriter Christopher Ward and MusiCounts executive director Steve Cranwell, who will help mentor the participants.
Returning as host is Adamo Ruggiero of "Degrassi: The Next Generation." Ruggiero says he's excited to visit St. John's, and had some valuable advice for anyone hoping to get into the biz.
"I mean, one of the reasons I was drawn to the show is that I started when I was 11 and 12 auditioning for professional gigs too, and now in retrospect at 24, you really should do it because you love it," he says.
"The media frenzy around fame and teen fame, but I always encourage kids to treat it like a hobby, and do it because you love it, with friends, in class. If your hobbies turn into a career, then that's just a blessing."
For anyone thinking of coming out to audition Saturday, he's got some advice for them too.
"The lineup starts at 7 a.m., I think, so the kids will line up. I'll be there hyping up the crowd. My advice is to go in there and just have a good time. I know it can be nerve-racking, but what the judges are looking for is obviously the voice, but it's also about personality, style, charisma - it's really a package thing. There's no specific package, it's just a personality. Don't be nervous, because there's nothing the judges haven't seen," he adds with a laugh.
He says some of the kids who audition blow him away.
"These kids not only have fantastic voices, but they're singer/songwriters. We've had two contestants over the last two years who were in the Top 6, and their singles were their own songs. And there are some who are just a ball of energy. I remember these two sisters from Montreal in season one, one was about six, the other was about nine - and they just started singing this Italian opera to me. It was just beautiful, perfect harmony, perfect pronunciation. And I was expecting them to sing a Hannah Montana song or something," he jokes.
St. John's is the first stop for "The Next Star," so local performers will set the stage for the whole tour. St. John's auditions take place Saturday, May 1 at the Capital Hotel on Kenmount Road.
'The Next Star' could be in St. John's
Adamo Ruggiero Submitted photo
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Published on
April 29, 2010
- Published on June 30, 2010
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Heidi Wicks
Television
YTV's talent search show "The Next Star," in its third season, will for the first time stop in St. John's Saturday. The show is a reality series that seeks out and shapes Canada's future singing stars, aged 15 and younger.
Unlike similar shows, this one claims to focus on mentoring new talent - not eliminations.
This year's cast of music industry veterans includes singer/musician Suzie McNeil (of CBS reality show "Rock Star: INXS" fame), Juno award-winning songwriter Christopher Ward and MusiCounts executive director Steve Cranwell, who will help mentor the participants.
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Comments
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- Lou
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:49:07
Oh great, another show to praise up a kid as the next Elvis 6 weeks before he/she bags my groceries at Sobeys!
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- Lou
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:30:51
Oh great, another show to praise up a kid as the next Elvis 6 weeks before he/she bags my groceries at Sobeys!
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