PRESQUE ISLE — A new year brings with it a new search for Aroostook County and western New Brunswick’s top vocalist. The United Way of Aroostook has officially launched a new season of its popular Northern Star competition with a call for talent going out to residents age 12 and older in Aroostook County, Maine and Madawaska, Carleton and Victoria counties on the New Brunswick side of the border.
The first of the regional competitions is set for Friday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. Eastern time in the Fox Auditorium at the University of Maine at Fort Kent. The second show is slated Saturday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. Eastern at the Presque Isle Middle School Auditorium. The final contestants will compete at the Houlton High School Auditorium Sunday, Feb. 28, at 2 p.m. Eastern.
Organizers of the popular international singing contest — which began 12 years ago as “Aroostook Idol” before expanding to include competitors from neighboring parts of New Brunswick — are again moving forward with a twist called “The United Way Save.” The show, originally modeled after the popular FOX television show “American Idol,” has added a concept introduced on the NBC television network sensation “The Voice.”
As in past years, the audience will pick their top two contestants from each regional show, and the judges will pick the third finalist to head to the finale production. But then, after all three shows are completed, the United Way of Aroostook panel will pick three individuals to save — the “United Way Save.” These three saves can be from any of the regional shows.
“We may end up with three more contestants from the same regional show or one from each show. Our goal is to have the best of the best at the finale,” said Sherry Locke, new executive director for the United Way of Aroostook.
There is another thing that hasn’t changed: This year’s show will again be co-hosted by Claudia Stevens and Jason Parent. “We are so fortunate to have Claudia and Jason hosting the shows again this year,” Locke said. “They have been with the production since the beginning and really make each show fun for the contestants and the audience.”
Applications for the 2016 season of Northern Star are now available, and vocalists on both sides of the border are encouraged to apply as soon as possible if they want to take part in one of the three regional shows. The forms can be downloaded from the United Way of Aroostook website at www.unitedwayaroostook.org. Residents, age 12 and above, who live in the three counties in New Brunswick that border Aroostook County are eligible to compete alongside solo singers from northern Maine.
Organizers would like to see 15 singers in each performance. The regional winners from Fort Kent, Presque Isle and Houlton, along with the United Way saves, will compete in the Northern Star Finale on Sunday, March 13 at 2 p.m. at the Caribou Performing Arts Center.
Three local celebrity judges from each area will sit on the panel for the regional shows. The panel for the finale will include one judge from each of those events.
Northern Star was born more than a decade ago when officials with the United Way of Aroostook took a chance on a new fundraiser they hoped would replace an annual County-wide telethon. Twelve years later, they have succeeded in developing the largest and most successful talent show in northern Maine and northwestern New Brunswick, raising more than $350,000 over the years for numerous worthwhile nonprofit organizations, and making regional celebrities out of some of the international region’s top vocalists.
Admission to each regional show and the finale production will be $10. All proceeds from funds raised at the door will go directly to the United Way of Aroostook’s annual campaign. Tickets for this event will be available at any branch of the County Federal Credit Union and Acadia Credit Union.
For more information on the Northern Star competition, contact the United Way of Aroostook at (207) 764-5197.
