Variety – The Children’s Charity has found their winner! Close to 300 entrants, aged 13 to 29, from every corner of the province, entered online over the last two weeks. The top 11 finalists were brought to Vancouver where they had the chance of a lifetime to perform before a live audience at the Red Robinson Show Theatre on Friday, February 4th.
The evening’s emcee, Great Canadian Casinos Howard Blank, summed up the night when he said that each finalist had experienced an event that they could learn from and take something with them into the next stage of their musical careers. There was fierce competition on the night, following a day of fun which included lunch at the White Spot Panorama in Surrey, a sound check at the theatre and having their makeup done by Mac makeup artists and their hair styled by students from Blanche MacDonald Centre.
After 15 minutes of deliberations, the panel of celebrity and industry judges announced Fort Langley resident, Shylo Sharity, 22, as the winner. Shylo has toured with the group Winter Harp, won the Walnut Grove Idol contest at her high school and appeared as a singer in the series Dead Like Me. A communications major at Trinity Western University, this singer/songwriter is destined for greatness! Judge BJ Cook summed up her performance of 'The Story' by saying “I like everything about you - even your name is cool! You remind me of the amazing Dolly Parton - you are a great performer, I loved you”.
Shylo currently works at Purdy's Chocolates but Judge Dal Richards feels she's made for the stage. Shylo will introduce a video of her performance during the 2011 Variety Show of Hearts Telethon which airs February 12th and 13th on Global BC. Shylo will be live on air Saturday, February 12th.
Congrats Shylo! All 11 finalists were truly incredible - so much talent right here in British Columbia!
