Dollard vocal starlet is born

If you were to poll young teens in the West Island on what they were up to this summer vacation, most would probably say they’ve lived it up, or at least tried to. Balancing curfews and chores with outings to the mall, the opposite sex, sports, and sizzling summer reads. Perhaps, even the faint glimmer of a part-time job on the horizon.

Yet, for Dollard des Ormeaux's Amanda Rowland, 14, the summer was all about performing songs live in front of judges, shooting schedules lasting day and night, and even some modeling tips and dance routine practice, as one of the six prestigious finalists in YTV’s new reality TV show, The Next Star.

This July in Toronto, she swept the stage as one of the lucky teens who got a full on aspiring musician’s performance mentorship from a show whose host is none other than Degrassi’s breakout star, Adamo Ruggiero. Thus, this West Island golden girl traded in an ordinary summer, for an extraordinary one.

“It’s stage experience and exposure to the world,” said Rowland of her educational experience in entertainment.

Newly blonde, statuesque and surprisingly down to earth, Rowland claims she came out of her mother’s belly knowing how to sing Whitney Houston’s hit ballad, “I will always love you.” Magnetically drawn to performance since her childhood, it was no coincident that when this theatrical, Grade nine Riverdale High School student heard that YTV was hosting local auditions for a show featuring exceptional vocal talent in young Canadians, she was at the tryouts in a Montreal minute.

“There was many steps to get past, it was a process,” said Rowland of her audition on May 21. Two weeks later, as she celebrated her last day of school at LaRonde with her friend, her mother Joanne Dinelle, called her with the astonishing news, “You’ve got it baby!” she said.

Dinelle mentioned that it is still surreal to see her daughter Amanda on TV, “It kind of smacks you in the head, reminds you this is actually happening.” she added.

Though Rowland would not give up this experience for the world, her journey was not without its bumps in the road. Since she was originally eliminated from the top 12 when the final cuts were made, she was beyond surprised when she was welcomed back to the show. A fellow performer had caught Meningitis and was to sick to perform. She claims it has taught her a thing or two about perseverance and integrity. Her grandmother, Gloria Morin, also got to accompany her back to Toronto, where things really steamed up. “Amanda is a real trooper” she proudly added.

On Sunday at noon, Amanda will be doing a signing for the Next Star at Zellers in Pointe Claire. The show airs at 6 p.m. each Friday on YTV, and is re-capped throughout the weekend. The winner of the Next Star gets a record contract and video deal and will be announced in the Canada wonderland finale on Sept.28 at 7p.m.

You can vote for Amanda Rowland, as well as check out her homegrown vocal talent at www.ytv.com, keyword The Next Star.