Yellowknife (Oct 11/04) - Singers from Hay River, Fort Liard and Norman Wells descended on Yellowknife last weekend for the start of the second North of 60 Idol contest.

Bonnie Deschene of Norman Wells, Fawn Fritzen of Fort Liard and Mackenzie Pope of Hay River all moved on to the next round. The three are expected to sing again on Oct. 23 at the Legion-sponsored contest.

Bonnie Deschene of Norman Wells sings You're Not Alone. Deschene wasn't alone at the contest. Her mom and dad came with her and the community is backing her effort. - Jennifer Geens/NNSL photo

With the community of Norman Wells backing her and a local airline flying her to the competition, Deschene fought off nerves to rise to the occasion.

The 14-year-old doesn't normally succumb to stage fright, but she was the first contestant to take the stage and she found the large crowd, not to mention the scrutiny of three judges, at the Legion daunting.

Deschene sang both of her songs -- You're Not Alone by Amanda Stott and Like a Prayer by Madonna -- a cappella, without the support of any backing music.

"I was shaking up there and that's never happened to me before," she said.

But the risk paid off for the teen. Having been the first singer to perform, at the end of the night she was also the first to have her name called from the list of performers who had made the cut.

Fawn Fritzen of Fort Liard stepped onto the stage in a black, off the shoulder, floor-length sparkly evening gown. She sang Debbie Boone's You Light up my Life in a clear and confident voice.

"Thank God you showed up," judge Jim Stratford from CJCD told her.

She later donned a red sequined stetson to sing her second song Cowboy Take Me Away by the Dixie Chicks.

Fritzen, who is originally from Thunder Bay, Ont., said she has "sung forever" and normally plays the piano while she sings, though she said it's hard to hit the high notes while sitting down.

Mackenzie Pope of Hay River, who made it all the way to the finals last season, spent the intermission leafing through the karaoke titles for his next number. His last minute choice of Mustang Sally proved popular with the judges.

"I wanted to shut my eyes to listen to your voice, but I also wanted to see your dancing," said judge Katey Simmons, a music teacher from Mildred Hall elementary school in Yellowknife.

CJCD's Joanne Cochrane hinted Pope may be one of the strong contenders for the new Judge's Choice Award -- a trip to Vancouver to audition for the pop band New School. Only North of 60 Idol contestants between the ages of 19 and 25 are eligible for the Judge's Choice award.

The semifinals take place Oct. 30 and the finals Nov. 6.

First prize is a trip for two to Disneyland in California.