Every day this week, Lauren Carnovale is practising her singing at home; getting ready for her performance this weekend at the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver.
The 20-year-old Burnaby vocalist is one of 30 semifinalists chosen out of a slew of singers, dancers, and other performers from around the province who will entertain the crowds and vie for the title of most talented act at the fair.
The Star Showdown contest has been held for decades now; long before network television made singing and dancing competitions a mainstream trend.
"It's great," said PNE CEO Mike McDaniel, of the event. "It gives an opportunity for the young and the young at heart to come out and show their talent. ... I think they're really here because they love what they do and they're trying to get to the stage where they can perform in front of an audience."
Past winners of the annual summer contest include Mission's Carly Rae Jepsen and Burnaby's own Michael Bublé.
For four days, starting Aug. 18, contestants will compete in the kids, youth, and adult categories for cash prizes, including a grand prize of $5,000.
For Carnovale, who is the only contestant from Burnaby this year, it's mostly a chance to gain some more experience singing in front of an audience.
"When I was little I was so shy, I wouldn't speak with anyone, ever," she said. "And then my parents were really surprised when I said I wanted to start singing. I think that was in Grade 6, and that's when I started taking singing lessons. I was still scared to perform when I was younger too, and I'm still very shy, but it's gotten a lot better now."
When she was a child, Carnovale joined the show choir at Notre Dame high school, and has grown up playing guitar and piano and singing and dancing.
For the past two years, she has been focusing all her efforts on launching a singing career.
Regardless of the outcome of the competition, she said she plans to continue to pursue music professionally.
On a monthly basis she travels to New York to work on recording demo songs with a producer, and once she has five "solid songs" recorded she plans to send them out to producers for feedback on her work.
Performing in front of an audience is always nerve-wracking, Carnovale said, but she is excited and looking forward to the experience.
Besides, this won't be her first time at the fair.
She was a contestant four years ago, in the youth category, and remembers that experience fondly, when she sang Stay by Sugarland.
"There was no pressure, it was just like, you're at the PNE and everyone's having fun; they're just families watching you, so you just perform," she said.
For her performance at this year's competition, Carnovale will do a rendition of Jessie J's Casualty of Love in the adult vocals category.
The 17-day PNE runs Saturday, Aug. 18 to Monday, Sept. 3 (Labour Day) this year.
Founded in 1910, the PNE at Hastings Park attracts more than three million visitors per year, with cultural, sporting and family entertainment events.
For more information about the fair or the Star Showdown, visit www.pne.ca.
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