The biggest talent show in the Grande Prairie area has kicked off for another year. Peace Country Rising Stars will soon be holding auditions for the 31st year of the competition.
The event was formerly known as Peace Country Idol. GPRC Business and Office Administration Instructor Carolyn Vasileiou says the name change signifies that the revamped competition is more welcoming to a wide variety of talented Peace Country residents.
“Last year we rebranded and turned it over to a talent show, so we could include more acts or a bigger variety of acts.”
The competition has had its fair share of players making big splashes in the music world, as country music star Tenille Townes, and recent Big Valley Jamboree contest winner Jordan Leaf both took part in their formative years.
Vasileiou says some of those musical talents continue to lend a hand when it comes to helping the competition find more hidden gems in the Peace Country.
“It’s a good experience for people, and my students just did a little video with Jordan [Leaf] and she talked about that, and how it kind of launched her career after that, got more performances and got going a little bit more.”
For those who have never sung in front of anything but a mirror, Vasileiou has a pretty simple piece of advice.
“You’ve just got to have a lot of guts. Just be brave and do it.”
In-person auditions will take place on October 25th and 26th and November 1st and 2nd at GPRC. Online submissions will also be accepted until November 2nd the Peace County Rising Stars website.
The final 10 competitors selected by the judging panel will compete in the final on November 23rd at the Douglas J. Cardinal Theatre.
