Yellowknife (Mar 01/06) - Still wowed by the trip, six talented singers who advanced to Canadian Idol tryouts in Vancouver returned home late Monday night.

"It was so surreal," said Aaron "Godson" Hernandez. "Watching 'Idol' on TV is one thing, but being there is so different."

Hernandez was one of the six singers given a blue ticket to advance from the tryouts in Yellowknife last week.

The group arrived in Vancouver late Sunday night, Hernandez said, and had to be at the auditions early the next morning. "I barely slept, and then we went straight to audition."

Because the Yellowknife crew only had the day in the city before having to return to the North, they were given first priority with the judging.

Hernandez said his choice for a song was an easy one, a single from the third disc of his Yellowknife trilogy: Canadian Night.

"I thought the judges would like the content, and they did," said Hernandez. "It was better than I thought."

For Grade 12 student Sarah Von Hagen, the trip was a memorable one. "It was more than I expected."

Meeting the others who advanced from Yellowknife was a good way to meet new people.

"It's crazy how much you can find out about people in such a short time," she said.

A celebrity sighting was a Vancouver highlight for the soon-to-be-graduate from St. Patrick high school.

"I saw Robin Williams, that was top notch!" said an enthused Von Hagen.

Rebecca Brotherston was another singer chosen by the judges.

She said the whole experience was exhausting and fun. "I was surprised to see so many people there."

Brotherston is originally from Vancouver, so the trip also served as a good time to see family members.

"We had some short visiting time. It was nice," she said.

Brotherston took the criticism from the judges - and her over-all experience- back with her to Yellowknife to help prepare her for the next big break.

"Now I know more of what they want for next time," Brotherston said.