Eriksdale recently hosted the return of CFRY’s Radio Talent Nights, and among the winners were two Lundar tweens.
On Saturday, Jan. 27, CFRY hosted their first talent night in years at the Eriksdale Rec Centre. The talent night features youth performers from rural communities on CFRY’s airwaves, each collecting pledges to raise money for a community project. The Eriksdale talent show fundraised to upgrade the curling rink’s ice surface and lounge, which will cost around $200,000. Along with pledges, each performer vies for first, second, and third place in two categories: talent and popularity. In other words, there were prizes for the best singers and the ones who collected the most pledges. First place receives $300, second $200, and third $100.
Charlee Holm from Lundar was awarded first place for both talent and popularity, raising the most money at $3,765. The 12-year-old has been singing since she could talk, belting out country hit after hit at various community events, including Lundar Falcons games. She said at the talent night, she was nervous and worried it would show in her performance, but her mom, Becky, said that was not the case.
“With these performances she’s doing, I can really see her starting to gain her confidence and get her own style,” she said. “They were amazing. You wouldn’t even think she was nervous.”
Holm sang three songs at the talent night — “Hello Sweetheart” by Katie Ro, “I’m Little but I’m Loud” by Little Jimmy Dickens, and “A Little Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen..
CFRY’s Live Talent Night’s second-place winner for talent and popularity also went to one performer. Alyssa Christensen, 13, has also been singing forever and is a familiar face at community events for performances like Holm.
When entering the talent show, Christensen had raised $400. As the show continued, she received more and more pledges. After finding out a couple of people with plenty of pledges weren’t competing, she was awarded second place in the category.
Christensen likes to sing country music. At the talent night, she sang “Die from a Broken Heart” by Maddie & Tay, “Someone Like You” by Adele, and “Heart Like a Truck” by Lainie Wilson. Her mom, Colleen, listened to the show from her car speakers at Christensen’s brother’s hockey tournament, and said just listening to her daughter sing was almost better than watching her.
“She has a beautiful, natural voice,” said Colleen.
Both performers take vocal lessons with Alison King, a local music teacher. King had five current students and two former students sing at the CFRY Live Talent Night and was excited for each of them to get their moment.
“It’s a great opportunity for local musicians to showcase their talents and help raise money for the community,” said King. “Performance opportunities have been few and far between since the pandemic started. It’s one thing to develop singing/playing skills in lessons and at home and quite another to put them to the test in front of an audience — and on the radio.”
King noted that the adrenaline rush of performing can sabotage a prepared but inexperienced performer, which is why opportunities like the talent show are incredibly important to budding musicians.
Along with her solo performances, Christensen sang with the Eriksdale Music Choir, who raised $1,985 for the curling club upgrades.
A total of 13 youth performed at CFRY’s Live Talent Night in Eriksdale. Before the evening started at 8 p.m., performers had already raised $5,700, and by the time the clock struck 12, $28,313 had been raised for the Eriksdale Curling Club.
