Young country crooner crowned champion at the FOTMC

Sep 27, 2012

Photo: 3-year-old Augusta Campoli of Richmond Hill competed against June Nixon, Marjorie Smith and Roy Bradshaw and won overall singing champion at the Frontenac Old Time Music Championships at the Bedford hall on September 22

Sometimes changing horses in the middle of the stream can pay off. It certainly did last weekend for Augusta Campoli, a 13-year-old singer from Richmond Hill who was crowned the overall singing champion at the Frontenac Old Time Music Championships, which were held on Sept. 23 & 23.

Augusta, who has recently crossed over to country music, made the trip to the Bedford Hall near Godfrey to compete in the Class B for young singers aged 9-14. She won her class, which put her in the running in the final sing-off, where she competed against three finalists, all more than three times her age. Her final song, an original tune she co-wrote with a friend called “Innocent Love”, landed her the first place overall title.

Jo-Anne Rudachuk, who judged the vocal classes at this year’s competition, said she was blown away by the talent of the young singer. “She is absolutely amazing and I would buy her records now,” Rudachuk said after presenting the young singer with her cash award on Saturday afternoon after Augusta took first place in the final sing down. Rudachuk would know, after having judged young singers for the last three years at the Kingston Fair. “Frankly I have never seen anything like her and I strongly feel that one day she is going to be really big.”

Augusta, who started singing at age 6, studied classical and operatic singing under Veronica Pressman of Aurora. Her favorite singers at that time were Andrea Bocelli and Paul Potts. She made an appearance at Carnegie Hall, where she sang Amarilli Mia Bella. At age 11 she made the switch over to country and has never looked back. “I remember driving to my brother’s hockey games and listening to Shania Twain and Garth Brooks on the radio and decided then that I wanted to make the switch,” she said at the Bedford Hall on Saturday.

Since the change, she has written a number of her own original country tunes and aims to not only record but to sing duets with some of the artists that she loves. “I'd love to sing “In Another’s Eyes” with Hunter Haze.” She was thrilled to be able to sing at Bedford and was encouraged by the positive feedback she received there. “People here could really relate to my songs and being able to connect to people through music is definitely one of the most rewarding things about being an artist.”

Cliff Rines, who organized this year’s competition, recalled getting a call from Augusta's father about entering his daughter in the competition. “It's great to know that the competition is attracting singers and musicians from all over and to see someone like Augusta wanting to get into country music. She made the trip all the way from Toronto to do so and that is really encouraging.”

What's next for Augusta? “I definitely want to be involved in the music business and will continue writing songs and coming out to sing at these kinds of competitions cause it’s a lot of fun and a really good learning experience.”

For more information about the championships visit www.frontenacoldtimemusic.com