CARIBOU, Maine — More than 700 people packed into the Caribou Performing Arts Center on Sunday afternoon for the 2019 Northern Star Finale, where Mayce Kinney of Presque Isle won the top award.
Kinney, a Presque Isle High School senior, won the vote for the best performance among 11 finalists with her rendition of “Always Remember Us This Way” from the film “A Star is Born.”
“It’s kind of like you’ll always remember your class and that type of fun spirit,” Kinney told Northern Star co-host Jason Parent about why she picked the song.
Mayce Kinney of Presque Isle performs “Always Remember Us This Way” from the film “A Star is Born” at the 2019 Northern Star Finale at the Caribou Preforming Arts Center. One of 11 finalists preforming at the finale, Kinney was voted as the winner of the 15th annual region talent competition.
(Anthony Brino)
The Northern Star Finale wrapped up the 15th year of the region-wide talent competition organized as a fundraiser for the United Way of Aroostook. The competition has raised approximately $20,000 annually for the United Way’s range of causes, while also highlighting the region’s talented young musicians, singers, dancers and performers.
Winning the award for the top junior contestant was 9-year-old Jared Blake of Mapleton, performing a tap dance routine to the ZZ Top song, “Sharp Dressed Man.”
The Northern Star Finale featured an afternoon of performances by 11 finale contestants and four junior contestants. Those performers were voted into the finale by attendees at three other Northern Star talent shows held in Houlton, Fort Kent and Presque Isle.
The 11 finalists performing Sunday were first narrowed down to three semi-finalists, with The MoonDance Tappers and the duo Nicole Adams and Gordon Hastings joining Kinney.
Hannah Boone of Patten, performed, “If I Die Young,” by The Band Perry. Krystal Turton of Eagle Lake sang Alicia Keys’ “No One.” Jennifer Raymond of Eagle Lake sang Aerosmith’s, “Dream On.” Scott Pelletier of Fort Kent sang “Survivor” by Zach Williams. The duo Nicole Adams and Gordon Hastings of Presque Isle sang Simon & Garfunkel’s “Sound of Silence” as covered by the band Disturbed. Jenna Lynds of Fort Kent sang “Gravity” by Sarah Bareilles. David Dow of Houlton sang a self-written song, “The Old Us.” Sheridan Blackstone of Caribou sang, “In My Dreams” from the Broadway show “Anastasia.”
Emma McGraw of Sherman performed a dance to the song “Another Day of Sun” from the musical film “Lala Land.” The MoonDance Tappers performed a dance to the song of “Jump, Jive and Wail,” with a dance team comprised of Jaidyn Blake, Rachel Ellis, Rossalyn Buck, Emma Christie, Olivia Kohlbacher, Danica Beaulieu, Johanna Cote, Emma Crouse, Colleen Schupbach, Hailey Himes, Cerena Wu, Katelyn Amero, Skye Strid, Fiona Wu, and Elizabeth Winslow.
Blake won the junior competition after performances by himself and three others: Hannah Chartier of Fort Fairfield playing fiddle with the song, “An Irish Party;” Colt Putnam of Mapleton performing a stand-up routine, “Life Through the Eyes of a 10-year-old;” and Haidyn Saucier of Fort Kent, playing ukulele and singing, “I Don’t Know My Name” by Grace Vanderwaal.
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- Hannah Boone of Patten, one of 11 finalists in the 2019 Northern Star Finale, performs “If I Die Young” by The Band Perry at the Caribou Preforming Arts Center. (Anthony Brino)
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- Nine-year-old Jared Blake of Mapleton danced his way into the hearts of audience members and judges during the Presque Isle regional show of Northern Star on March 9. He went on to win the top junior award with his tap dancing at the finale on March 24 at the Caribou Performing Arts Center. (Anthony Brino)
