A young St. Albert singer has landed a top spot in the nation-wide auditions for YTV's The Next Star and the episode was aired this past Monday.
Of the more than 4,000 initial competitors, Madi Amyotte, 15, a Grade 9 student at Ă©cole Secondaire St. Marguerite d'Youville, won a berth as one of the 16 semi-finalists. She bubbles with girlish excitement recalling the open call auditions held at the Mayfield Inn May 18.
“It was so nerve wracking, but the audition went well. I was accepted and they called a week later and talked to Dad. He texted me at school. I remember sitting at the cafeteria table and I couldn't tell anyone or express anything. But I was so happy inside. I wanted to jump and scream. I wanted to tell everyone,” says Amyotte, who sang Hedley's For the Nights I Can't Remember.
Corus Entertainment's YTV announced that season three of the network's hit series would launch into a six-city audition circuit across Canada that started May 1 in St. John and included an Edmonton stop.
The 12-week series hosted by Adam Ruggiero (Degrassi: The Next Generation), airs every Monday at 8 p.m. From the open call auditions of 16 hopefuls, the numbers will be whittled down to six finalists with audiences voting for their favourite performers.
The young singers will be groomed by a series of panel experts including returning mentors musician Suzie McNeil, songwriter Christopher Ward and music marketing executive Steve Cranwell.
Amyotte, who has attended Visionary College for two years and is also a guitar student of renowned jazz musician Peter Belec, carries the high hopes and confidence of a finalist.
“I just love to sing and it's my dream to make it big. I really hope I get in. I love the whole experience of meeting new people.”
Open to singers 15 and under, The Next Star puts competitors through every step of being a performing artist from the open call auditions, mastering vocal challenges, conducting media interviews and nailing down a signature look.
Season one winner was Dunnery Bond and in season two Tianda Flegel carried home the crown. Both have recorded singles.
