Hunt begins for Far North talent

Boycie Tawhara knows a thing or two about organising big events, and he reckons the Far North Voice 2012 talent quest which was officially launched in Kaitaia last week could be the biggest yet, and the most successful when it comes to promoting young Far North talent.

Boycie, whose CV includes the organising of the hugely successful Far North Idol series from 2003 to 2006, several Ultimate Rage youth dance parties, the Off The Hook hip hop dance camp and dance troupe tour and five Christmas concerts, was confident that his latest concept had the potential to his best event yet.

The idea for Far North Voice 2012, the quest to find the Far North's best vocalists, had been inspired by the television show 'The Voice.' He had taken that format and given it a Far North twist, and was now ready to unleash his vision on the world using all the resources of the digital age, including social networking media, to achieve his goal of reaching a global audience.

"Social media networks such as Facebook have provided next-level entertainment for events such as this, and that's all the encouragement I need to put my time, energy and expertise behind Far North Voice," he said.

"Utilising interactive modern day technology provides opportunities for the entire Far North community to have a voice, but it's not just about the voice of the contestants. It's always good to look at the bigger picture."

He admitted he was still looking for financial backing to cover essential running costs, which he estimated at around $5000, but promised that sponsors, much like the young stars, would receive unprecedented promotion via the event website and Facebook page.

"Co-ordinating this event as a volunteer is a tough task, and having the support of local enterprises such as Kaitaia's Grind Studios helps alleviate the demands of the event, and enables me to provide the professional development essentials the finalists will need to prepare for a concert that will draw upon a massive audience, both live and on-line," he added.

"This event provides an amazing opportunity to showcase our young Far North talent to the world, and generate excitement and pride amongst our schools and communities. I will welcome and appreciate any form of support, whether it be physical, human resources, business services or sponsorship."

The competition is open to everyone who has not yet celebrated their 20th birthday and who lives in the Far North or can affiliate/whakapapa to the district. There will be two divisions, one for those aged up to 13, the other 14 years and over. Contestants must register for the event on-line (www.farnorthvoice.moonfruit.com)

Auditions, which will be open to the public, will start at 10am on Sunday September 2, at Kaitaia Intermediate School. From there 12 finalists will be chosen, six in each division. The finalists will then attend a professional development workshop where they will receive stage performance and vocal coaching, before going head to head at the finals concert at Te Ahu on Thursday September 20.

The major winners in each division, who will be chosen by a judging panel, will receive trophies and cash, $500 for the junior champion and $1000 for the senior. Crowd favourite prizes will also be won in each division, decided by voting among the audience, on-line and text.

Boycie said he had already received a positive response and interest from his extensive networks, and several Far North schools had begun promoting the event to their students and submitting registrations. Further details are available on the website.