PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – A smaller, but supportive crowd was seen during night two of the Central Aroostook Idol competition at the new Presque Isle Middle School Auditorium on Feb. 10.
Aroostook Idol, borrowing the premise of the nationally-televised singing competition with a similar name, is organized by the United Way of Aroostook and is estimated to raise close to $40,000 in support of many non-profit agencies in the county this year.
“This series of performances and the MMG/United Way golf tournament are our largest fundraisers throughout the year and they usually bring in about the same amount of proceeds. We expect to exceed last year’s revenue because of the second show we have added tonight. The whole project includes 5 shows and involves so many people of all ages in the community,” said Dianne Collins, a member of the United Way of Aroostook board of directors.
Jason Parent and Sandy Bouchard acted as Master and Mistress of Ceremonies once again while eight performers took the stage, all vying for one of three slots in the finals and ultimately, the opportunity to be called Åroostook Idol 2007.
Three finalists named on Feb. 10 included Erin Buck, Danielle Lane and Jessica Guyan.
Caribou High School freshman Danielle Lane was the first to take the mic Saturday, singing “When There Was Me and You” by Vanessa Anne Hudgens. Lane, a fourteen-year old from Woodland is a first year Idol competitor but that certainly did not affect her impact on the judges, or the audience.
“You wowed me. I thought you were strong. I would increase your space on stage even more,” said Colleen Duplissie, one of two new judges for this year’s competition.
“Danielle, you are on the fast lane to the finals,” said judge Scott Voisine, of Fort Kent, playing on Lane’s last name.
Jessica Guyan of Easton also grabbed a place in the finals with her performance of “At Last” by Etta James. A second year competitor and a second year semi-finalist, fourteen year old Guyan wowed Voisine last year with her song, “Impossible” by Christina Aguilera and entertained the Presque Isle audience so much in this year’s performance that she will grace the stage with eleven other singers on Sunday, March 4 at the Caribou Performing Arts Center.
“I love this song and there were absolutely no pitch issues during your performance,” said veteran judge Sherrill Campbell.
Judge Renee Cavagnaro, 2005 Aroostook Idol winner said of Guyan, “I love your voice. You have a great talent.”
The third winner in the Saturday night Aroostook Idol competition was Caribou High School freshman, Erin Buck, who sang Sugarland’s “Baby Girl.” When competing in last year’s Idol, Buck met with lots of constructive criticism from Voisine. This year, however, Voisine and Campbell said that Buck had improved greatly.
“You’ve really come a long way since last year,” Campbell said.
“Erin, you have a little bit of an attitude on stage and I like that,” Cavagnaro added.
Other contestants included the following:
• Shelagh Kavin of New Sweden sang “Only Hope” by Mandy Moore.
• James Kavin, of New Sweden and the father of Shelagh sang “Making Memories of Us” by Keith Urban.
• Michelle Schwartz of Caribou sang Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel”.
• Deanna Jordan of Caribou sang “Anything but Ordinary” by Avril Lavigne.
• April Dalbeck of Presque Isle sang “Time in a Bottle” by Jim Croce.
Coming soon is the northern Aroostook Idol contest in the St. John Valley this Friday taking place at 7 p.m. at Fox Auditorium on the University of Maine at Fort Kent campus. For those interested in being a part of the audience for the finals, the Aroostook Idol finale will be Sunday, March 4 at the Caribou Performing Arts Center.
For more information on the Aroostook Idol competition, contact the United Way of Aroostook at 764-5197.
Aroostook Idol, borrowing the premise of the nationally-televised singing competition with a similar name, is organized by the United Way of Aroostook and is estimated to raise close to $40,000 in support of many non-profit agencies in the county this year.
“This series of performances and the MMG/United Way golf tournament are our largest fundraisers throughout the year and they usually bring in about the same amount of proceeds. We expect to exceed last year’s revenue because of the second show we have added tonight. The whole project includes 5 shows and involves so many people of all ages in the community,” said Dianne Collins, a member of the United Way of Aroostook board of directors.
Jason Parent and Sandy Bouchard acted as Master and Mistress of Ceremonies once again while eight performers took the stage, all vying for one of three slots in the finals and ultimately, the opportunity to be called Åroostook Idol 2007.
Three finalists named on Feb. 10 included Erin Buck, Danielle Lane and Jessica Guyan.
Caribou High School freshman Danielle Lane was the first to take the mic Saturday, singing “When There Was Me and You” by Vanessa Anne Hudgens. Lane, a fourteen-year old from Woodland is a first year Idol competitor but that certainly did not affect her impact on the judges, or the audience.
“You wowed me. I thought you were strong. I would increase your space on stage even more,” said Colleen Duplissie, one of two new judges for this year’s competition.
“Danielle, you are on the fast lane to the finals,” said judge Scott Voisine, of Fort Kent, playing on Lane’s last name.
Jessica Guyan of Easton also grabbed a place in the finals with her performance of “At Last” by Etta James. A second year competitor and a second year semi-finalist, fourteen year old Guyan wowed Voisine last year with her song, “Impossible” by Christina Aguilera and entertained the Presque Isle audience so much in this year’s performance that she will grace the stage with eleven other singers on Sunday, March 4 at the Caribou Performing Arts Center.
“I love this song and there were absolutely no pitch issues during your performance,” said veteran judge Sherrill Campbell.
Judge Renee Cavagnaro, 2005 Aroostook Idol winner said of Guyan, “I love your voice. You have a great talent.”
The third winner in the Saturday night Aroostook Idol competition was Caribou High School freshman, Erin Buck, who sang Sugarland’s “Baby Girl.” When competing in last year’s Idol, Buck met with lots of constructive criticism from Voisine. This year, however, Voisine and Campbell said that Buck had improved greatly.
“You’ve really come a long way since last year,” Campbell said.
“Erin, you have a little bit of an attitude on stage and I like that,” Cavagnaro added.
Other contestants included the following:
• Shelagh Kavin of New Sweden sang “Only Hope” by Mandy Moore.
• James Kavin, of New Sweden and the father of Shelagh sang “Making Memories of Us” by Keith Urban.
• Michelle Schwartz of Caribou sang Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel”.
• Deanna Jordan of Caribou sang “Anything but Ordinary” by Avril Lavigne.
• April Dalbeck of Presque Isle sang “Time in a Bottle” by Jim Croce.
Coming soon is the northern Aroostook Idol contest in the St. John Valley this Friday taking place at 7 p.m. at Fox Auditorium on the University of Maine at Fort Kent campus. For those interested in being a part of the audience for the finals, the Aroostook Idol finale will be Sunday, March 4 at the Caribou Performing Arts Center.
For more information on the Aroostook Idol competition, contact the United Way of Aroostook at 764-5197.
