Daron Letts
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 23/06) - Singers from across the North have a chance to compete for stardom on Canadian Idol next month.

Auditions for the hit CTV program will be scheduled at a yet-to-be determined Yellowknife location some time in February, said Canadian Idol publicist Anne-Marie La Pointe.

In 2005, the competition held its Northernmost auditions in Whitehorse.

"We just got a lot of great stories from the North last year and that's what we're back for again this year," she said.

"We're excited that Yellowknife is happy to have Canadian Idol come."

Although the final competitions will be held in English, singers in the pre-auditions are welcome to sing in Inuktitut, French, or other languages of their choice.

The contest is open to all musical genres. Singers must be between 16-28 years of age.

The pre-auditions will be filmed and performances by a few singers will be broadcast in the early episodes of the show next fall.

Within a week or two of the auditions, the judges will present gold tickets to any singers selected to advance to the next round.

That includes an all expenses paid trip to try-outs in a major centre in the south.

"We'll give out as many gold tickets as there are great singers," La Pointe said.

"There's certainly no limit or any kind of ratio. We hear that there's some great talent there so we're going to give out as many gold tickets as we can."

Arviat Idol winner and gospel singer Lydia Akat said she would consider making the trip to Rankin Inlet for a flight to Yellowknife if she could. She is a couple of years past the age limit of 28, though.

Gospel singer Vanessa Shanee also participated in last year's Arviat Idol competition.

She said she would consider auditioning for Canadian Idol next year.

At 15, she's a year under the age limit.

Inuvik singer and guitarist Doris Rogers said she may consider making the trip to the NWT capital for an audition. Rogers competed in the North of 60 Idol at the Yellowknife Legion last fall and performed with her father James at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre in December.

Kiera Kolson of Yellowknife will also be in line to audition.

"I'm happy that (Canadian Idol) decided to give Yellowknife a chance because we have so many talented people here that have a lot to offer the competition," she said. "I definitely want to try out."

The biggest challenge for Kolson will be fitting the try outs into her busy schedule.

She is performing at the Aboriginal Achievement Awards in Vancouver later this month and then she headlines an Edmonton gala to promote the second World Indigenous World Youth Conference, followed by a performance in Rae at the First Annual Tlicho Youth Conference.