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American Idol and X Factor move over...

Two Sooke singers are in the finals for Island Star Search
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Janet McTavish

Island Star Search finds the brightest lights

For a person who doesn’t seem to seek the limelight, Janet McTavish is becoming quite a bright light on the music scene on Southern Vancouver Island.

McTavish quietly, without fanfare, entered Island Star Search, sang her heart out and ended up as one of 10 finalists.

“I’ve never done anything like this before, so I decided to give it a try,” said McTavish.

She entered the first round against 42 other contestants in November at the Bay Centre in Victoria. The search was open to anyone from the Island.

While McTavish may be a relative unknown in Victoria, in Sooke she is a regular performer at various community functions like the Fall Fair, Oktoberfest, 2012 New Year’s levee, and Robbie Burns night.

Singing before a larger audience at the audition was intimidating but McTavish grabbed the judges’ votes and hearts pushing her onto the semi-finals.

Another Sooke singer who made it to the semi-finals was Xanthe Westgate who will be performing in the finale singing in the production number “Can’t Stop Believing.”

Another Sooke singer Meghan McKenzie joins McTavish as a contestant in the finals on Monday, Jan. 23 at the McPherson Playhouse in Victoria. She is a blues fan and will be singing Etta James’ “I’d Rather Go Blind” at the finale.

This is McKenzie’s first competition and she is stoked, nervous and excited.

So far, she says it has been a lot of fun and she has learned a lot.

McKenzie, still in high school at Edward Milne Community School, has been in 11 musical theatre productions since the age of six and she said she feels, “this is what I was meant to do.”

McTavish said she is the oldest singer in the competition, but “age has nothing to do with it.”

“I wanted to try  something new, challenge myself and to meet new people,” she said.

At the finals McTavish will be giving it her all with Jordan Sparks’ version of “To Love Somebody.” She said it is more soulful and she is excited to sing it. She said she is looking forward to singing with an eight-piece band in the finale’s MoTown themed number.

Island Star Search is put on by the same sponsors as last year’s Victoria Idol, Re/Max. The winner of the competition will be taking home the prestigious Island Star Award and will have the star treatment before the finale. Hair, makeup, limo and their song recorded and video taped by DBBI Studios is all part of the winner’s prize package.

Money raised  at the event  is earmarked for Community Living Victoria.

Tickets are available online through the McPherson Playhouse box office or by phone, toll free at 1-888-717-6121.