About thirty young artists are taking part in “Star Académie – The final audition” to try and win one of the 15 places available for the new season of the popular TVA musical event.
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Everyone will have to sing a song on stage in front of the three permanent teachers, who will then decide their future. These final auditions, recorded live in late fall, will air from January 10 to 13, at 7:30 p.m.
It is with confidence and a certain aplomb that Camélia Zaki, 17, advanced on the stage of the final audition, installed in the studios of TVA. In front of her, Lara Fabian, Guylaine Tremblay and Gregory Charles listened to her with seriousness and attention to interpret “Sober” by Demi Lovato. From the last note, the audience stood up to applaud wildly, just like the teachers.
MARIO BEAUREGARD / QMI AGENCY
Life-size test
For this new season, the “Star Académie” production team was keen to adequately prepare candidates for what awaits them.
“The best is to experience it on a smaller scale,” explained Jean-Philippe Dion, producer of the show. The thirty or so selected candidates can therefore familiarize themselves with this particular context. They see the cameras, the projectors, the audience in front of them and soak up the atmosphere. It is also the first time that they sing in front of the teachers. “
One after the other, they are called upon to deliver a service which will eventually allow them access to the Academy. The three teachers have the possibility of recruiting the candidate directly, either to invite him to defend his place during the first variety, or simply to thank him for coming to participate in this stage.
“We are in an educational role,” said Gregory Charles. No one can say what will happen with each of them. We must try to use our instinct, our experience, and visualize or predict how we will be able to participate in their progress. We are referring to the vocal and musical capacities of young people, but beyond all that, there are also human capacities at play. “
For the producer, these final auditions are also a way to test the candidates. “To enter the Academy, you don’t necessarily have to be the best, you have to have a good foundation and be motivated. But we kept those who worked the most. We were able to see those who arrived very solid by having worked on their side. That tells us a lot. “
Increased responsibility
For teachers, the responsibility is even greater in this exercise. “What is quite reassuring is that the public reacts immediately to the performances of the candidates,” said Gregory Charles. Where I find that we have a great responsibility is that, for them, it is already something not to want to disappoint your family that supports you, but it is even more so when you see that the teachers believe in you from the start. It sets the bar high. ”
At the end of the final auditions, five candidates will have obtained their pass and 14 will have to deliver a performance, during the first variety, to obtain the public vote. Fifteen candidates will then have them enter the Academy of Waterloo, in the Eastern Townships.
Several events for the new season of “Star Académie”:
– “Star Académie – The final audition” will be broadcast from Monday 10 to Thursday 13 January, at 7:30 pm, on TVA.
-The first variety of the season, piloted by Marc Dupré, will be presented on Sunday January 16, at 7 p.m., at TVA. In particular, we will pay tribute to Daniel Bélanger.
-As for the daily, it will be offered from Monday to Thursday, at 7:30 p.m., at TVA, as of January 17.
-Remember that the return of the 24/7 cameras to “Star Académie” will allow Videotron’s Mobility and Helix Télé customers to follow the Academicians behind the scenes of the Sunday variety as well as in the bus between MELS Studios and the Academy of Waterloo, in Estrie.