The Ayr Idol competition, proudly sponsored by the Beckett School and the Walters Family, will be open to youth ages 12-18. The competition is open to any music genre and contestants may be accompanied by their instrument of choice or a recorded sound track.  If you would like to apply for Ayr Idol download the Ayr Idol Application here.

The preliminary competition will be held Saturday June 12 at the Calvary Church, 173 Northumberland St. in Ayr.  Registration is open at 8:30am. The competition begins at 10am. This event is open to the public and we encourage you to invite your family and friends to cheer you on.

Each participant must provide a copy of the song to be performed to each of the 3 judges (or the lyrics if music is not available). This will be collected from the contestants at the time of registration.

Five finalists will be selected to perform the following Saturday at the Festival on the Main Stage. There will be no adjudication of these performances. After the judges take time to confer, 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. The winner will also receive a 4 hour-long recording session offered by the Walters Family recording studio in Bright, Ontario.

Rules for the Ayr Idol vocal competition-preliminaries on June 12.

Rules on June 19

OUR HOST

“FLETCH” Fletch

 In the course of a diverse 20-year career in all aspects of DJing, music production and radio hosting, George Fletcher aka “Fletch” has proven to be a skilled entertainer, visionary music director and an adroit motivator for thousands. Fletch is a multi-talented artist who has wowed club goers across the country and gained the respect of his peers with his diverse, but distinctive, blend of popular music. Stemming from his classical upbringing, his musical tastes range from Mozart to Metallica and Mos Def and through incredible skills and his intense work ethic, Fletch has risen from humble beginnings to become a recognized name Nationwide.  

In 1996, Fletch joined the team at Chum Group Radio Ottawa.  Starting as a soundboard operator, he quickly climbed the ranks to host/produce a syndicated music program.  In addition to his presence on the FM dial, Fletch could be heard regularly on News Talk Radio 580 CFRA hosting his own talk-show and seen on Rogers Cable as the entertainment reporter for “Daytime”.  Beyond the walls of the clubs, radio and television stations, Fletch acted as a motivational speaker to teens, volunteered at an Ottawa Youth Center and taught Audio Engineering in Montreal.  It was this connection between teaching and working with teens that encouraged him to supplement his formal qualifications by completing a Masters degree in Education.  Without leaving his passion for radio behind, Fletch joined the team at 91.5 The Beat for their launch in ’04 while securing employment with the Waterloo Region District School Board.  For the ’08-’09 school year, he could be seen teaching History and Politics at Eastwood Collegiate by day, Literacy at Cameron Heights by night, heard as the “Weekend Morning Guy” on The Beat and playing at various clubs in KW, Brantford, Guelph, Ottawa and Montreal.

With talents across the entertainment and educational spectrum, Fletch is probably best known for his people skills.  While some try to pigeonhole him, Fletch’s “true calling” remains indefinable. He has the rare ability to refreshingly combine his passion for music, politics and personalities with his own unique flavour.   Be sure not to forget his name as he promises BIGGER and BETTER things for the future!

OUR JUDGES

STACEY LEE GUSEStacey Lee

Stacey Lee began singing before she could talk...and ever since then her life has been grounded in the music business.

She is a sought after session vocalist for lead and backing vocals alike in studios throughout Canada. Her quick, accurate and creative touches have been included on several albums, radio and t.v. jingles and publishing demos. She has performed country, Christian and easy listening stations all across North America.

Most recently, she can be seen as a featured member of The Western Swing Authority, performing an eclectic mix of Western swing and jazz standards with 6 other top Canadian musicians. See www.myspace.com/thewesternswingauthority for show dates and album release dates to come. The Western Swing Authority can be found playing every other Tuesday night in Maryhill at the Commericial Wright, the home of Country Music.

She has toured with Jason McCoy of "The Road Hammers", was featured on his single, "I Lie", and has backed numerous other Canadian artists onstage and in studio including Jason Blaine, John Landry, Lace, Michelle Wright and Sean Hogan, to name just a few.

Formerly a member of Juno-nominated country sensation LACE, Stacey Lee 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 festivals. She has shared the stage with endless legendary artists including Merle Haggard and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Stacey Lee can be seen on CMT in videos and specials with Lace, as well as with John Landry, singing their CCMA nominated duet, "My Heart Says Yes (But The Hurt Says No)".

Along with performing and spending time with her husband and fellow musician, Shane Guse, she is thrilled to be engulfed in her sweetest project to date...becoming a mother of two beautiful girls.

TIMOTHY LANIGAN

A native of Ayr, Ontario, Timothy Lanigan lives in the village with his parents and 2 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 10 years now. With this group he has toured Canada 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 the Centre in the Square and Roy Thompson Hall in the performances of the "Lord of the Rings Symphony". A performance put on 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 has won many admirers. In the summer of 2007 Timothy was a part of Ontario Youth Choir. A 40-voice audition choir comprised of youth from all across the province. Timothy is also a member of Wilfrid Laurier University's elite chamber choir, the Laurier Singers, under the directorship of Dr. Lee Willingham.

Timothy is 19 years old and in September will be entering his second year at Wilfrid Laurier University, in the Honours Bachelor of Music program, where he studies voice with Lynda Mieske.

MARTIN LACOSTEMartin Lacoste

Martin Lacoste is currently in the Head of Music at Bluevale Collegiate Institute in Waterloo, where he directs two bands as well as A Shade of Blue, Bluevales's Jazz Choir, and also accompanies the Chamber Choir. He has served as musical director (orchestral and vocal) for 3 musicals, most recently for Eastwood Collegiate's production of Guys and Dolls in 2008. A graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University, he has had the privilege of directing over 30 ensembles throughout his career in both the education system and local community, and is honoured to be taking part in this year's Ayr Idol.