VIDEO / PHOTOS: VCIdol

And the VCIdol finalists are... Shayne Pierce Loughren, Jessie James, Michael Simpkin (all from Johnny Be Good band); Corey Illingworth, Blake MacDonald, Ryan MacDuff and Holly Barton.

See below to read about the VCIdol winners and watch a video of their incredible performances.

After the 13 competing acts had been seen by the audience, the judges retired to choose five finalists, who then performed a one-minute reprise for the audience before everyone voted for their VCIdol. Blake MacDonald (left) won for his engaging performance of Billy Joel's song, "Piano Man." The Grade 12 student made his singing debut and won $300 after being selected as VCIdol.

Corey Illingworth made it to the finals of the VCIdol competition with an energy-filled piece entitled, "The Evolution of Dance," an act during which Illingworth demonstrated dozens of dance styles, keeping pace with the songs, which changed about every 30 seconds.

In second place, winning $200, was Johnny Be Good: Jessie James (seen below, centre) with Michael Simpkin and Shayne Pierce Loughren.

Holly Barton (below) played guitar and sang but added new technology to her performance, recording sounds and her own voice which was played back in loops while she performed. Barton sang "Black Horse in a Cherry Tree," placing third and won $100.

Judges Louise Sproule (Review publisher), Terry Gillespie (blues musician) and VCI's former music teacher Kathleen Fraser-Collins, were the judges to select five finalists from the 13 acts in last Friday's VCIdol competition.

PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCED DURING THE RECORDING OF THIS EVENT, THE REVIEW WAS NOT ABLE TO INCLUDE VIDEO OF SECOND-PLACE WINNER JESSIE JAMES. IF SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE A VIDEO OF HIS PERFORMANCE, PLEASE CONTACT THE NEWSPAPER'S EDITIORIAL STAFF. THE REVIEW REGRETS ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED.

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