Generously sponsored by

For immediate release
May 26, 2008
Contact:  Karen Stewart, Blyth Festival
519-523-9300, ext 209

Top Prize Goes to 14 Year Old Singing Sensation, Kira Isabella

The winner of the first Rising Star Award at the am920 Ontario Open Country Singing Contest Sunday night was Orleans’ Kira Isabella.   The award was presented by southwestern Ontario’s own country-music singer/songwriter Jamie Warren and CKNX am920’s Scott Pettigrew. 

Kira has been wowing audiences for the last 5 years.  The judges were unanimous in choosing this “dynamic young singer with a killer voice” to take the top prize.  Isabella’s absolutely captivating presentation and lovely control also earned her first prize in the Female Open Category. 

The 2008 judging panel included Canadian country music stars Jamie Warren and Cathy Korpi ; Janice Pym a music consultant who represents the talents of many Canadian music stars like Jamie Warren, Duane Steele and Big Mike Callan; Travis Teed, an Auburn resident who has been involved in the music industry for over 25 years; and Blyth Festival Artistic Director Eric Coates.

The first prize winner in the Male Open Category was John Fraser of Guelph; Jessica Woodhouse of Stratford took the Teen Category and won a cash prize sponsored by the Barn Dance Historical Society;  Madonna Parsons from Stratford was Senior Female and Dennis Wiley of St. Thomas was Senior Male winner. 

The Rising Star Award is a $7500 Recording Package generously donated by Jason Barry of BarryTone Studios, Joe Wood, Patrick Duffy and Janice Pym and includes production of a single for radio, release to radio across Canada, a professional biography and marketing and promotions consultations.  The award was presented to a Teen, Male Open or Female Open contestant as determined by the Judges on the Final Day of Competition.

The 2008 Contest was held in conjunction with the Barn Dance Historical Society’s 11^th Annual Jamboree.  Together the Country Music Festival in Blyth drew a crowd of Country Music Fans that exceeded the population of this tiny village in southwestern Ontario. 

For the full list of winners of the Ontario Open Country Singing Contest visit  www.blythfestival.com/press.php?id=344

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