Northern Arm teen takes provincial karaoke idol title

It was a Christmas gift that arrived a little bit late, but one that was probably the best present a young woman with a dream could have - learning that she was declared the winner of a provincial singing competition.

The young woman in question was 16-year-old Northern Arm resident Jennifer Mercer, a Grade 11 student at Botwood Collegiate.

Her gift was a $5,000 cheque and studio time to record her own CD.

Jennifer beat out six other competitors to become the winner of the 2007 Newfoundland and Labrador Teen Karaoke Idol competition, for ages 12-19.

It's an event similar to the popular Canadian Idol, in which contestants choose and sing tunes with a pre-recorded soundtrack in the background.

But where the national competition relies on the public to phone in votes for their favourite performer - and the choice of the winner is ultimately left up to the voting audience, even though the winner may not be as talented as runners-up - the provincial Idol contest has the competitors perform in front of experienced judges from the music and performing industry.

In this case, the judges obviously liked Jennifer enough to select her as the winner, and notified her on Dec. 29.

"It was a dream come true, everything I've ever wanted to accomplish and it's been a really good experience," she said.

She had made the start of her Idol journey in March 2007, when she auditioned at the Mount Peyton Hotel. She was then chosen to go on to the finals in St. John's in July.

Seven girls from across the province competed at the finals and the shows were aired on television in December. After that, the judges made the decision and notified the winner and runners-up.

"We're very proud of her," said her mother, Cathy Mercer. "She is very talented."

"I auditioned last year as well, but I didn't make it to the finals that year," said Jennifer. "But I decided to come back again this year."

She's no stranger to singing in public; she's been doing it since she was three years old. As well, Jennifer has taken part in other Idol-modeled competitions. Two years ago, she won the Community Idol in Gander and took home $1,000.

She says she wasn't really nervous about this contest, just a bit anxious and excited at the same time.

In this year's competition, she won with her performance of "We Never Loved At All" by Faith Hill and Tim McGraw,

"I like singing a lot of different things but I found lately that country suits my voice and I kind of enjoy singing it," said Jennifer. "And I think I am going to be trying out this year for Canadian Idol.

"As for recording my CD, they'll let me know. I hope they'll let me write my own songs."

Jennifer isn't just a singer. She plays an impressive list of instruments, including piano, some brass instruments, guitar and drums a little bit. She also sings with a church band on weekends.

"As far as I know I am going to the Bay St. George campus of the College of the North Atlantic to do music industry and performance," she added. "That's a two-year course. We'll see what happens after that."