{"id":18029,"date":"2017-08-09T17:40:41","date_gmt":"2017-08-09T21:40:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/?p=18029"},"modified":"2017-08-09T17:40:41","modified_gmt":"2017-08-09T21:40:41","slug":"auroras-2016-teen-idol-ready-for-the-cne-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/auroras-2016-teen-idol-ready-for-the-cne-spotlight\/","title":{"rendered":"Aurora\u2019s 2016 Teen Idol ready for the CNE spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Jake Courtepatte <\/strong><\/p>\n

Aurora\u2019s jazzy golden voice is taking her next step towards stardom on the Canadian National Exhibition stage.
\nMelissa Suma, who was crowned Aurora Teen Idol in 2016 for her rendition of Nina Simone\u2019s \u201cFeeling Good\u201d, has been chosen from hundreds of applicants to compete in this year\u2019s CNE Rising Star talent competition.
\n\u201cI thought it would be a good opportunity to perform in front a live audience at a great venue,\u201d said the fifteen-year old Suma, who will be competing in the Youth category for those ages 13 \u2013 21.
\nAn end-of-summer tradition for over three decades, the Rising Star contest gives singers, dancers, and other performers their first opportunity to perform on a grand stage in front of a large audience, while the judges base their decisions on natural ability, audience appeal, stage presence, and quality of performance.
\nIt was actually the video of Suma performing at the Aurora Teen Idol competition that booked her ticket to the big stage.
\n\u201cWhen I won 2016\u2019s Aurora Teen Idol, that was the first time I sang jazz in a competition,\u201d said Suma, who had previously felt more of a passion for pop music. \u201cTeen Idol was a great experience.\u201d
\nIn a case of \u201cdon\u2019t fix what isn\u2019t broke,\u201d Suma will stick with a Nina Simone jazz piece at the CNE when she performs her classic \u201cI Put a Spell on You\u201d, something she said she has been working really hard on.
\nShe has even learned to \u201cscat,\u201d a challenging vocal practice unique to the jazz culture.
\n\u201cScat singing is when you improvise a section of music, often without words, and use your voice more like an instrument,\u201d said Suma. \u201cI enjoy singing many different styles of music, but I chose this song because it\u2019s really fun to sing, and I think it is a classic that many people in the audience will know. \u201c
\nDespite her young age, Suma is no stranger to performing in front of a large audience. She sang in front of close to 3,000 guests at the annual Magna Hoedown finals two years ago, and has been on a number of stages both small and large locally over the last few years. She has once again made the Top 40 contestants or the Hoedown Showdown, the preliminaries for which get underway this Thursday.
\n\u201cI love singing, but still get a bit nervous before I go on stage, no matter what size the crowd,\u201d said Suma. \u201cI don\u2019t know how many people will be in the audience that night.\u201d
\nOther than the usual pre-show jitters, however, Suma said she is not worried about the size of the event or stage at the CNE, and just wants to make sure to \u201cprepare well and deliver a great performance.\u201d
\nThe preliminary rounds begin on August 24 at downtown Toronto\u2019s Enercare Centre, while Suma hopes to advance to the semifinals and finals the following week.
\nWith hopes of future stardom, the budding singer said she is \u201creally honoured\u201d to represent Aurora.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n\"Facebook\"<\/a>\"twitter\"<\/a>\"mail\"<\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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