(Photo: All 8 semi-finalists from U-Rock Music School, along with their vocal coach, Cathy Hallessey (center). Left to right: Andrew Waines, Sarah Culbert, Abigail Moffitt, Briana Kelford, Avery Stone, Karolina Moo, Heidi Nephin and Samantha Clarke.)
Young singers from U-Rock Music School in Stittsville swept all four prizes at the Carleton Place Farmers’ Market (CPFM) Vocal Competition today, taking away $1,000 in cash prizes.
This year’s winner is Sarah Culbert, 13, who performed “If I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars. She won the top prize of $500 for her flawless vocal rendition that captivated the attention of all four judges as well as the popular vote.
Second place ($300) went to 18 year old Andrew Waines, who sang and played acoustic guitar for the market crowd, doing a truly impressive job of a popular song “One Day” by pop band Kodaline. Third place winner ($150), Karolina Moo, 13, performed “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey. She had the crowd in her hands with her artful interpretation of this popular tune and her skilled use of the stage area, where she encourages the crowd to clap along with her. Karolina also recently placed in the top 12 at this summer’s Ottawa Idol auditions. Fourth place ($50) went to last year’s winner, Abigail Moffitt, 12, who sang a beautiful version of Alicia Keyes’ “Empire State of Mind”.
Four other U-Rock students also made the CPFM semi-finals. They are, Briana Kelford, 14, Samantha Clarke, 13, Heidi Nephin, 12 and Avery Stone, 10. There were 18 performers in the semi-finals, 8 of which were from U-Rock Music School, others came from all over the Ottawa area and Ottawa Valley including competitors from Smiths Falls, Kanata and Barrhaven.
Three of the top four winners at this year’s competition are also members of the U-Rock School’s Tween/Teen band, The Crushers, who performed in Stittsville on Canada Day and at the Arnprior Fair this past summer.
(Press release from U-Rock Music School)
