HOULTON, Maine — Sometimes it takes a twist in the rules to inject new energy into an event that has taken place for a number of years.
That is precisely the case of the 2017 Northern Star competition as what was once a singing-only competition has branched out to include talent of all sorts.
The new twist opened the door for 13-year-old Hope Chernesky to blow the roof off the Houlton Community Arts Center Sunday afternoon as the talented daughter of Pam and Mickey Chernesky of Houlton dazzled the judges and audience with a contemporary violin performance played to a pop music backing track.
Chernesky was the audience’s top vote-getter for her rousing performance of “Crystallize,” by Lindsey Stirling.
Joining her for the regional show are Sidney Peabody, 13, the daughter of Dan and Traci Peabody and of New Limerick, who won the “Spirit of the United Way” award. Another change to the competition, the award is presented to the contestant who raises the most money at the performance by collecting sponsors. Peabody sang the song “Hallelujah,” by Leonard Cohen.
Selected as the “Judge’s Choice” was the rap band “Verbal Assault,” comprised of Chuck Grim, Chris Moran and Charles Long. The group performed an original piece “Follow Your Dreams.”
Judges for the Houlton production were Tammy Goetsch, Addie Carter and James Matilla.
Other performers included Kim Mann and Beth Rogan, Eldon Bennett, Chris Parent, Rev. Mark Fuller, Cathy Hobbs, Michaela Siddiqui and David Dow.
Regional shows were also held Friday in Fort Kent and Saturday in Presque Isle. The finale will be held on Sunday, March 19, at 2 p.m. at the Caribou Performing Arts Center.
From the Fort Kent show, George Safonov, the duo of Jennifer Raymond and Cady Hebert, and Christine Robinson all advanced, while at the Presque Isle event, Cassidy Pelletier and Brandon Dorr (duet), Caroline Woods and Makayla Shackett earned their tickets to the finale.
During Sunday’s show in Houlton, the judges marveled at Chernesky using words such as “amazing” and “incredible” to describe her performance.
“I was incredibly impressed,” said Matilla. “Your technical ability is far beyond your years. I commend you. Don’t stop, you are going to be a pro some day.”
For Verbal Assault’s original piece, Goetsch said she thoroughly enjoyed their self-composed selection. “Rap and Hip-Hop can be a very misunderstood genre,” she said. “You are storytellers, talking about things you are dealing with in your lives. It’s powerful.”
Peabody’s performance also drew praise from the judges. “That was really good,” Goetsch said. “You have such a sweet and soft tone to your voice.”
Each year there have been changes to improve the show, which is one of the UWA’s largest fundraisers, according to Sherry Locke, executive director of the United Way of Aroostook. The talent show was originally titled “Aroostook Idol,” but then changed to “Northern Star” so it could include contestants from the New Brunswick side of the Maine/Canadian border.
Last year, the vocal-only show adopted “United Way Saves,” which allowed a special committee to “save” up to three contestants to participate in the finale who were not chosen to go at their regional competitions, based on the support they received on the United Way’s Facebook page. Those lucky performers will be announced at a later date.
