Yellowknife (Feb 27/06) - Hopeful singers and performers from across the Northwest Territories and Nunavut sang their hearts out at the Yellowknife Canadian Idol auditions last Thursday.

Kathryn Misheralak and her friend Kaila Anawak-Gamble, both 17, came to Yellowknife from Rankin Inlet to try out for Canadian Idol. They were unsuccessful in their attempts. - Jessica Gray/NNSL photo

But it wasn't quite what some from Nunavut envisioned.

"Lots of people back home were telling my mom she had to fly me here for the auditions," said 17-year-old Kathryn Misheralak from Rankin Inlet.

"I'm ready to give it my best."

But after waiting hours to audition in front of the three senior producers, her excitement faded to a less pleasant feeling.

"I guess I'm just not good enough for them," she said.

Holly Gauthier, 22, from Iqaluit had a similar experience.

Nervous but excited before her audition, afterwards it was a different story. Without saying anything, Gauthier walked out of the Explorer Hotel.

Contestants were competing for the ultimate prize of a blue ticket, ensuring their place to audition in front of the celebrity judges in Vancouver, B.C.

In total, 107 singers auditioned with only six awarded blue tickets. It wasn't known at press time how many of them came from Nunavut, but only NWT singers made the final cut.

Those flying to Vancouver include Allyssa Waser from Inuvik, Becky Brotherston, Aaron Hernandez, Morgan Moffat, and Sarah Von Hagen from Yellowknife. This list is incomplete because Canadian Idol spokespeople chose not to release the names of the winners.

The contestants who received blue tickets were called by 8 p.m. Thursday evening, with the exception of Waser, who was given a blue ticket right after her audition.

Three senior producers were in charge of judging the potential Canadian Idols. While singing talent was important, judges say they were looking for more than a person who could sing.

"We're looking for the whole package - the look, the voice, and confidence," said Mary Sexton, one of the judges.

Sexton said that judges were not here to be mean to people.

"It's not about rejecting people. We often give them pointers and ways to improve."

Sexton called the show a gentler Idol compared to its American counterpart.

Canadian Idol host, Ben Mulroney said he was glad to come to Yellowknife because of enthusiasm and spirit.

"We haven't seen this level of excitement in a lot of the places we've visited before."