HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-05-30, Page 28Page 28 The Huron Expositor • May 30, 2007
News
Amanda Van Miltenburg is the Seaforth Idol
Six singers vie for title in Lager House competition meant to showcase local talent
Susan Hundertmark
®®
The winner of the Lager House's
first Seaforth Idol competition says
she's just singing for fun.
Amanda Van Miltenburg, 21, of
Seaforth, says that while friends
and family urge her to enter the
Canadian Idol contest, she's not
looking for a career as a profession-
al singer.
"It'd be fun on weekends but I
don't think I could do it full-time. I
get stage fright too easily," she said
after her win Friday.
Judge Dave Clark, a professional
musician living in Ipperwash, told
Van Miltenburg that any signs of
stage fright were absent during her
Friday performance.
"You just keep getting stronger.
You got rid of your inhibitions and
just opened up and that was won-
derful to see," said Clark.
"I really think you have celebrity
qualities and you could really make
it. Seaforth should be proud of you,"
he said, praising her rendition of a
Bonnie Raitt song, "Something to
Talk About."
"I saw Bonnie Raitt sing that song
in Atlanta, Georgia and she sure
didn't do it with the punch you did,"
he said.
Coming in second in the contest of
six finalists was Mike Francis, of
Seaforth, who was called "brilliant"
with "excellent control and timing,"
by the judges.
"You sure are a happy man on
stage. You're a pleasure to watch
and you have a smile that would
light up the North Pole," said Clark.
Clark said he enjoyed Francis's
rendition of Lionel Ritchie's "Easy
Like Sunday Morning" which was
smooth but "still the gravel in your
voice is there."
Coming in third was Casey Van ,
Bakel of Seaforth.
Van Bakel was told by the judges
that he seemed comfortable on
stage and picked two hard songs by
singing the Beatles' Eleanor Rigby
and Yesterday.
"You have to be a singer to sing
Yesterday," said Clark, who added
he thought Van Bakel would be bet-
ter with a band behind him.
The other three competitors were
Victor Moses, of Seaforth, Chris
Mabb, of Mitchell and Scott Wilson,
of Clinton.
Moses was told he picked songs
that suited him.
"You sing with conviction and you
make the songs believable," said
Clark.
Judge Tammy Graham told Moses
to practise bringing his voice down
into his diaphragm more.
Wilson was told he had "Meatloaf
tendencies" with "an edge and a
sense of rebellion" in his singing.
"I can see music is your life. You
reminded me of Joe Cocker the way
you get into a song. You're a real
blues singer," said Clark.
Mabb was told he was influenced
by Hank Williams and encouraged
to let his own style develop.
"The more you sing, the more your
own voice will come out," said
Clark.
The Seaforth Idol contest was
held after a conversation between
Lager House owner Donna Ellis and
Heartfelt Music teacher Kim Souch
about how to create more opportuni-
ties for local performers. The third
sponsor was Archie's UPI.
"We wanted to give people anoth-
er opportunity to get out and per-
form because you need to do that as
Amanda Van Miltenburg
much as possible if you want to be a
singer," said Souch Friday.
"We had an amazing bunch of tal-
ent here tonight and all very differ -
Susan Hundertmark photos
nt," she said.
Ellis and Souch said a junior
Seaforth Idol could also be held this
summer.
Mike Francis
Casey Van Bakel
Victor Moses
Scott Wilson
Chris Mabb