Hidden Talent Toronto returns to Vaughan for sixth season

YorkRegion.com
Aug. 22, 2014
By Adam Martin-Robbins

It’s time to start warming up your vocal cords.

Hidden Talent Toronto - the local competition for amateur singers and now bands, too - is returning for a sixth season.

The organizers decided to keep the competition going, in part, to help local artists who wouldn’t otherwise get a chance to show off their skills, but also because they, too, get a lot of joy out of it.

“It’s just a great cause,” said James Nickle who, along with Vaughan singer/songwriter Laura Cavacece, founded the non-profit event three years ago. “We know so many aspiring artists that don’t have the platform to perform and they try to sing in bars but they’re not old enough sometimes, so it’s just about that happiness that we get vicariously through these people.”

The initial open audition for vocalists - both soloists and groups - takes place Sunday, Sept. 7 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Sound Rehearsal Studios, 8219 Connie Cres., unit 8, in Vaughan.

Bands, which are being permitted in the competition for the first time, must email a YouTube video of themselves performing to info@hiddentalenttoronto.ca by Saturday, Sept. 6.

As in previous seasons, Cavacece, Nickle and Laura Corsi will serve as judges for the competition.

And this year, they’ll be looking for contestants who are clearly passionate about pursuing their musical dreams.

“There’s so much talent that is completely haphazard,” Nickle said. “We’re providing the stage and the minor celebrity, but you have to bring the effort, the desire.”

Those who make it through the open audition to the preliminary round will square off against dozens of other contestants in front of a live audience Friday, Sept. 26.

Following that round, 30 contestants will move on to the semi-finals, to be held Friday, Oct. 24.

The judges will pare that number down to 12 finalists, who will be given the chance to work with successful artists, executive producers and mangers in the music industry before competing before a live audience Friday, Nov. 21.

The top three winners will be announced the night of the finals.

Runners-up receive cash and/or gift certificates along with trophies, while the first-place winner scores a recording package and the honour of being crowned the Hidden Talent Toronto champion.

For more information, visit hiddentalenttoronto.ca.