It was a story of redemption for Laura Marenych at this year’s Delta Idol.
After finishing third in 2018, the Tsawwassen teen got a second opportunity to compete this year, nailing a rendition of “Wait a Bit” from the musical Just So to wow the judges and take the 2019 senior category title.
“I really took some of the stuff [the judges] said last year to heart, and it really helps me to grow, especially … to come back and do it again.” Marenych told the Reporter after her win at the Tsawwassen Arts Centre on Saturday, Feb. 23.
Marenych had just returned from New York City, where she was training and rehearsing with other young singers and orchestra musicians as part of the Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall. She’s spent the year since her third place finish working on her breath support.
“Last year, I did a song that flipped a lot, and I got the note [from the judges] just to control my breathing and take that support,” she said. “That’s what I worked on for [‘Wait a Bit’] as well.”
As a winner of this year’s Delta Idol, Marenych will receive a prize package from Studio Cloud 30, “which includes a professionally recorded demo, coaching sessions, an industry consultation session, logo and graphic design, and a professional photo shoot,” according to the City of Delta website.
In the long run, the 17-year-old wants to attend a theatre school back east, either in Toronto where “the scene is really happening,” or go for the big leagues in New York.
“Hopefully, I will go to The New School theatre [program]. That is my dream,” Marenych said.
But even if that happens, she said she won’t forget her roots.
“I’d love to come here and choreograph for Delta Youth Theatre.”
From Feb. 28 to March 9, Marenych will be performing in South Delta Secondary’s production of Oklahoma!, followed by Delta Youth Theatre’s production of Mary Poppins Jr. at the Genesis Theatre in May.
Performers at the 2019 Delta Idol competed in on of two age categories: junior (12 to 14 years old) and senior (15 to 18 years old).
This year’s junior category winners are:
• Seiko Miyazato (first place), singing “Rise Up” by Andra Day
• Finn Hipwell (second place), singing “Netflix Trip” by AJR
• Eric Sun (third place), singing “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth.
As first place winner in the junior category, Miyazato receives the same prize package from Studio Cloud 30 as Marenych.
This year’s senior category winners are:
• Laura Marenych (first place), singing “Wait A Bit” from the musical Just So
• Faith Carswell (second place), singing “At Last” by Etta James
• Maddison Jose (third place), singing “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane
sasha.lakic@northdeltareporter.com
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