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Ayr Idol Contest
The Ayr Idol competition will be open to youth ages 12-18. Participant classes are open to any music genre including Rock, Pop, Country, Folk, Hip Hop and may be accompanied by their instrument of choice or a recorded sound track (no vocals on the recording please)
Each participant must provide to the judges 3 copies of the song being performed or the lyrics (if music is not available.)
First place winners of each class will then perform a different song the following Saturday at the Festival on the Dasani Main Stage. After a brief adjudication of each performance, the Ayr Idol winner will be announced.
Please read the biographies below to learn more about this year's judges. Their mandate as judges is to give positive feedback and constructive criticism in order to encourage our young performers. Each participant will receive a certificate. There will be a cash prize of $200.00 awarded to the new Ayr Idol.
Gayle O'Brien from 107.5 Dave FM will also be at the Ayr Idol Stage at 1pm.
Rules for the Ayr Idol vocal competition
- Open to ages 12-18 as of June 16, 2007
- One song is to be performed for the preliminary round - must be memorized
- 3 copies of music or lyrics to be provided to the adjudicators
- Contestant must provide own accompanist. *note a piano and organ will be made available at the church for preliminaries
- CD music accompaniment is permitted providing there are absolutely no other vocals included on the disc
- Microphones will not be used in the preliminary competition
- Each contestant will receive adjudication after all contestants have completed their performances.
- No marks will be assigned.
- 3 contestants will be selected to compete in the finals June 16 at the Fresh Ayr Festival. Three runners-up will be chosen and may perform at the festival. A different song must be performed that day and memorized.
- Usage of a microphone may be required the day of the Festival
- A keyboard will be available on stage
- The judges will conduct a brief adjudication of all performances and then announce the First-place winner - Ayr Idol!
- All songs must be age appropriate and suitable for family listening
- The preliminary competition will be held on June 9, 2007 at the Calvary Church. Entry forms can be picked up at Games and Gear or downloaded here and returned there, faxed to 519-632-9412 or emailed to info@freshayrfestival.com
Our Judges
Stacey Lee
Stacey Lee grew up in Fenwick, On, and began singing before she could talk. Since a love of music runs deep in her family, it is only natural that her life has been grounded in the music business.
In 1997 Stacey Lee entered her first and only singing competition, the Canadian Open Country Singing Contest in Simcoe, Ontario, where she took first prize in the Female Open category. From there she began working for various recording studios, publishing companies and songwriters, singing everything from commercial jingles to song demos to background and solo vocals. Stacey Lee is a featured performer on numerous albums by artists including Ken Munshaw, Jason McCoy, John Landry, Lace, Diane Chase, Michelle Wright, and Jamie Warren, to name just a few.
In January 2000, Stacey was added to the roster of Canadian New Country sensation, Lace. Along with fellow members Beverley Mahood and Giselle, Stacey Lee has had the opportunity to tour all across Canada, the U.S. and into Europe, performing as a part of the George Strait Country Music Festival, the Calgary Stampede and many other North American music festivals. Stacey can be seen on CMT in videos and specials with Lace, as well as with John Landry, singing their duet “My Heart Says Yes (But The Hurt Says No)”. Her voice can be heard all across the country on radio, stage and television.
Along with performing and spending time with her husband and fellow musician, she is thrilled to be engulfed in her newest project…becoming a mother to a beautiful baby girl.
Giselle
Giselle enters her debut album as a solo artist with a unique, very impressive, perspective and experience. Already a top 10 charting songwriter, and multi award winning and nominated performer, Giselle has toured North America as part of the trio ‘Lace’. She has opened shows and shared stages with Brooks & Dunn, George Strait, Keith Urban, and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (just to name a few from a long list). Giselle has worked on records with award winning producers David Foster, Chris Farren, Humberto Gautica, and Rick Hutt. She brings all of this experience to the table for her debut solo record.
As part of Lace, Giselle has been nominated for the following awards;
o Juno – Best Country Group or Duo - 2000
o CCMA – Best Group Or Duo - 2000
o CCMA – Best Video of the year - 2000
o Juno – Best Country Group or Duo - 2001
o CCMA – Best Group Or Duo – 2002
In 2002 Lace had a number one video with hit single ‘I Want a Man’ and the group won Best Group or Duo of the year at the Ontario Country Music Awards (OCMA‘s).
In 2003, after landing a top 10 hit as a writer, with John Landry’s “My Heart Says Yes”, Giselle focused most of her time writing and landing several cuts, including Beverley Mahood’s, “That Changes Everything”.
In demand as a co-writer, Giselle was on the songwriter performance circuit in 2004 with Steve Fox, Jason McCoy, Dean McTaggert, Marcus Hummon, and Chris Farren. She has now enlisted the help of long time friend and producer/engineer/guitarist, David Kalmusky, to produce her album. Kalmusky is noted for his work with George Fox, Farmers Daughter, Jason McCoy, The Road Hammers, and Chris Cummings.
Giselle and Kalmusky have been in the studio working on the production of Giselle’s first solo album and are due to launch in the summer of 2007.
Timothy Lanigan
A native of Ayr Ontario, Timothy Lanigan lives in the village with his parents and 3 of his 6 siblings. At the age of 10 he began singing with the Cambridge Kiwanis Boys' Choir. He has been with the choir for 7 years now. With this group he toured the Canadian Maritimes in 2002 and England in 2003 where he sang solos in five cathedrals. This was the beginning of his solo career as a boy soprano.
In May of 2003 Timothy presented his first full length solo concert to benefit World Vision where he raised over $3,000. In November of the same year he filled his first professional solo engagement singing in Mendelssohn's Elijah with the Kitchener Waterloo Philharmonic Choir and the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Howard Dyck.
In June of 2005 Timothy was featured as a guest soloist at Centre in the Square and Roy Thompson Hall in the performance of the “Lord of the Rings Symphony”. A performance put on by the Kitchener- Waterloo Philharmonic. His debut appearance in Roy Thompson Hall elicited a strong critical review in the Toronto Star where he was hailed as “the Star of the show”.
In July of 2005 Timothy made his first professional CD. “Evening and Morning: the Sixth Day”. This CD received a $ 5, 000 grant from the Region of Waterloo Arts Fund. The CD includes various artists from around the region with Timothy's voice.
Timothy has been in steady demand for a variety of solo engagements such as weddings and other musical and church organizations where his musical maturity and warmly lyrical voice have won many admirers.
This spring, Timothy won first place in all of his entries in the Waterloo Region Kiwanis Music Festival with marks ranging from 89-90 He also received a scholarship. One of Timothy's more recent accomplishments is his acceptance into Ontario Youth Choir 2007. A audition choir comprised of youth from all across the province.
Timothy is 16 years old and is in Grade 10 at Christ Lutheran School in Kitchener . He is studying voice and piano with Eric Dewdney.