Wannabe Stars Take Note: Canadian Idol Auditions Scheduled

03/20/03 5:00pm

Do you fancy yourself an unmined singing talent who just needs the proper forum to prove that you’ve got the chops to make it in the industry? Sick of simply boasting to your friends that Clay Aiken ain’t got nothing on you? Well, for you Canadians out there who feel it is now your time to shine, take note that venue information for Canadian Idol auditions has just been announced. Holding auditions in eight cities all across the country, from St. Johns to Vancouver, you can join the thousands who have already sent in applications to take their shot at becoming Canada’s newest pop sensation. Beginning on April 14 in Winnipeg, the auditions are sure to draw a wide group of singers, from the genuinely talented to (hopefully for us cruel viewers out there) the chronically delusional and inept. Auditions will conclude on May 26 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, where the judges will then invite the top 100 contestants to the city to compete head to head. Through a six-week process of auditions, participants will eventually be whittled down until there is only one standing. Our very own Canadian Idol. Producers for the show are hoping that our Northern version of the series will spark just as great an interest in viewers as the preceding American Idol and British based Pop Idol did. A key ingredient in the eventual success of the show is, of course, finding the right judges for us to love to hate. At the moment the producers are still in search of a panel who can rival the bitchiness of the Simon Cowell led judges on American Idol. May we suggest the editors of Chart Magazine and ChartAttack? Really. We’d be happy to do it.There are some guidelines for those who are interested in applying to the show. All contestants must be Canadian citizens between the age of 16 and 26. Everyone singing should have two songs prepared to perform a cappella. Also, anyone who already has a talent representative or a recording contract is ineligible, a guideline which will hopefully ensure that no member of Velvet Empire will get to sneak in for a second chance at "stardom." Dates, locations and times for auditions are as follows: April 14 Winnipeg, MB @ Ramada Marlborough Hotel 8 a.m.April 22 Vancouver, BC @ The Centre For Performing Arts 8 a.m.April 27 Calgary, AB @ Metropolitan Centre 8 a.m.May 3 Montreal, QC @ Concordia University (Dep’t of Music) 8 a.m.May 7 Ottawa, ON @ Sheraton Ottawa 8 a.m.May 13 Halifax, NS @ Dalhousie School Of Music 8 a.m.May 21 St. Johns, NF @ Masonic Temple 8 a.m.May 26 Toronto, ON @ Metro Toronto Convention Centre 8 a.m.—David Summers