Fawn Fritzen, from Fort Liard, missed the cut at a Canadian Idol competition in Whitehorse.

Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Fort Liard (Mar 11/05) - When Fawn Fritzen travelled to Whitehorse last weekend to audition for Canadian Idol, the 26-year-old from Fort Liard was not pinning her hopes and dreams on the competition.

But when the North of 60 Idol was told she did not make the cut, "There were some tears", she said.

"I was disappointed," said Fritzen, who won her crown at the Royal Canadian Legion in Yellowknife. "I was more upset than I thought I would be.

She was one of roughly 40 people who travelled to the Yukon capital for the only Northern stop on the Canadian Idol tour. The showcase travels the country attempting to unearth hidden musical talent - or viciously humiliate the untalented singer.

Fritzen said she was nervous when she was called into a room with several executive producers in what was a pre-audition.

"It was a little daunting. Not like performing at the Legion," she said. Fritzen performed three songs, including a ballad - her forte at the Idol competition in Yellowknife.

Ultimately, Fritzen did not qualify for an audition in front the judges who appear on the television show and, unfortunately for her fans, the Whitehorse auditions will not be televised.

Despite the setback, Fritzen said the experience was a good one.

"I just went for fun, so my expectations were not too high," she said. It also helped ease a nagging feeling of, "What if?" "I thought to myself, If I don't try, I might regret it."

Fritzen plans to continue with her music career part-time.

She will perform at the Caribou Carnival in Yellowknife later this month and hopes to record a CD with studio time she won at the North of 60 Idol competition.

"Who knows," she said. "There might be something else that comes along."