Emily Vinette
 Age: 16 "All my life people have asked me if I wanted to be singer. I have always felt in my heart that I was a singer already." Emily Vinette's most memorable performance was in the House of Commons for Canadian veterans on the Sixtieth Anniversary of D-Day last year. She sang Vera Lynn's wartime classic When The Lights Come On Again All Over the World and when she was done, "the veterans told me it was like turning on the radio in 1942," she says. A Grade Eleven student at Ottawa's Notre Dame High School, Emily won the youth category at the Canadian Open Country Singing Contest last year and placed second in the youth competition at the Central Canada Exhibition. An honours student with a 91% average, Emily is also a competitive figure skater, ballet dancer and artist who works at the Rideau Centre as a sales clerk. Emily says her Canadian idol is Dr. Frederick Banting - but she also holds great respect for her grandmother. "Although widowed at a young age with eight children, she continued to grow, learn nurture and overcome life's difficulties with grace, love, wisdom, humour and dignity." Emily loves math and science and plans to attend university. She says she identifies with Kalan Porter "because he is a teenager and man could he hold those high notes!" Emily loves watching movies, chicken stir-fry, Smallville and the Ottawa Senators. The song title that best describes her? These Are The Moments. "I feel that I have had a lot of great moments in my life," she says. "I have been blessed with a great family and friends and teachers."
Emily's fun facts: Which musical act would you most like to see in concert? Phantom of the Opera
What has been the biggest accomplishment of your life? The biggest accomplishment of my life has definitely been making it to the Top 32 in Canadian Idol. What are you the most proud of? I'm most proud of the fact that I'm an honour student and last term I achieved a 91% average. Which item could you not live without? Hairspray. What's been the best day of your life? Last summer when I won the 18 and under category at the Canadian Open Country Singing Contest in Simcoe, Ontario. If you could meet one person, living or dead, who would it be and why? It would be Jim Carrey because I think he's a good actor and there's something about him that I identify with. What do you think has gotten you this far in the competition? I think my voice has gotten me far in this competition. What will it take for you to become the Canadian Idol? I think that in order for me to become the Canadian Idol I would have to give the Canadian public a reason to vote for me through song choice, performance and vocal ability. I would have to make a great connection with the audience. What has been the most challenging part of the competition so far? So far, it's been making each cut. This competition teaches you to concentrate on today. Whose career path would you like to follow and why? There are so many great ladies of song...that are all successful in their own way. So I suppose I would also have to follow a traditional yet new path because times are always changing and I'll make choices as opportunities arise in order to fulfill my music career. What part of the Canadian Idol experience has surprised you the most? How kind and positive the judges were. Another aspect that surprised me was how many people it takes to run a show like this onstage as much as offstage. What did you learn about yourself during the Top 100? I learned that I have lots in common with other singers from all across Canada. I also learned that there is a lot of different circumstances that singers face like changing partners, altered time schedules, new song choices, a variety of professional leaders and even with hardly any sleep I loved being part of it all. What was your reaction when you made the Top 32? I was happy, excited and proud. All my life people have asked me, "Do you want to be a singer?" and I have always felt in my heart that I'm a singer already, but to be recognized by this group of professionals is my ultimate compliment. Who has been the greatest inspiration of your life? My mom has been the greatest inspiration of my life because she is such a strong and amazing person. She's the kind of person who always thinks of others before herself, giving all of herself everyday. She's been such a positive and wonderful influence in my life supporting me as a parent and as a best friend. Who has helped to make you the singer you are today? My singing teacher Gary Pereira has helped to make me the singer I am today. He's always encouraged me no matter what the song choice. He has always helped me with songs for school, for competition and events. Gary has always made time for me even though he has a very busy schedule developing his own career as a singer. What song touches you the most? Why does it affect you so much? The song that touches me the most is "10,000 miles" because it's from Fly Away Home and it has a beautiful melody. When the geese return home they fly over Sandbanks Provincial Park where I have camped every summer since I was three. I hear the music, I see the geese, the beach, and I can almost feel the sand in my toes. I could listen to this song for hours while I do my homework. What do you do to keep your nerves in check during the competition? Chewing a pack of gum a day. How has this competition changed you? This competition has made me feel more alive, that every moment in a day counts, and happier to be doing something that I love. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? "Mom, can you drive me?" "Mom, can you pick me up here?" "Mom, can you drive my friends home?" |
