Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Last Friday’s central Aroostook Idol show held at the Presque Isle Middle School auditorium had something for everyone – country music, classic 80s, contemporary, rap, and even yodeling.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
The Central Aroostook Idol competition was held last Friday at Presque Isle Middle School. Fourteen contestants did their best to wow judges and audience members, but in the end, the audience voted for, from left: Erin Buck of Caribou, Robert Gossiaux of Limestone, and Robert Helstrom of Washburn. The three central Aroostook finalists will now compete in the Sunday, March 2 finale at the Caribou Performing Arts Center. Aroostook Idol is one of the largest fund-raisers to benefit the United Way of Aroostook.
Fourteen contestants battled nerves and some technical difficulties to perform in front of a nearly sold-out venue with the hope of being named one of the three finalists to advance to the Sunday, March 2 finale at the Caribou Performing Arts Center.
The three central Aroostook finalists, who were chosen by the audience, were Robert Helstrom of Washburn, Erin Buck of Caribou, and Robert Gossiaux of Limestone.
The evening’s judges were Sherrill Campbell, Brian Mosher, and Carolyn Dorsey-Durepo.
Helstrom, who sang “At This Moment,” impressed all the judges.
“You’re the first person tonight to give me goose bumps,” said Campbell. “It was fabulous.”
“That was a nice Valentine’s gift to the ladies,” Mosher said of Helstrom’s rendition of the Billy Vera tune. “We’ve got a performer here, and you really worked the crowd.”
Sixteen-year-old Buck performed Sara Evans’ “Born to Fly.”
“I’m impressed,” Campbell said. “That’s not the voice of a 16-year-old.”
“Great job. You are the goddess of stage presence,” Dorsey-Durepo said.
Gossiaux sang Elton John’s “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.”
Noting that Gossiaux can sing, Campbell detected some “pitch issues.”
“You can definitely sing,” she said, “but maybe it’s not the right song for you.”
Mosher, on the other hand, said Gossiaux “nailed it.”
“You have a nice, pleasant voice,” he said. “It was pretty cool what you did with the mic. You nailed it.”
“It’s a tough song, but you did a good job,” said Dorsey-Durepo. “I liked how you put your own spin on it; you didn’t try to sing it like Elton John. The vocals were good.”
The audience agreed by naming Gossiaux, Buck and Helstrom the three regional winners.
Also competing last week were:
• Lydia Abbott of Presque Isle, “Where’s the Love”.
• Al Abbott of Washburn, “Nobody’s Child”.
• Miranda Williamson of Caribou, “Teardrops on My Guitar”.
• Bob Soucy of Connor, “Let There Be Peace on Earth”.
• Hillary Chambers of Caribou, “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Old Days).
• Meagan O’Clair of Portage Lake, “Traveling Soldier”.
• Dorothy Poulin of Caribou, “Chime Bells”.
• Randolph Michaud of Mapleton, “The Grand Tour”.
• Deanna Jordan of Caribou, “Popular”.
• Connie Orcutt of Mapleton, “You Never Call Me When You’re Sober”.
• Lorna McGee of Fort Fairfield, “When You’re Good to Mama”.
The newly-created “Spirit of Aroostook Idol” award was presented to Poulin, who gave the audience an impromptu lesson on how to yodel.
Poulin, who moved to Aroostook County recently from Connecticut, dedicated her performance to her late son.
“Something just told me to come and do this,” she said.
In presenting the trophy to Poulin, Claudia Stevens, executive director of the United Way of Aroostook, said she did a “great job.”
“You brought something that’s never been done before [yodeling],” said Stevens. “Your son would be proud of you.”
But the night was a win for more than the finalists. United Way President Brian Sipe and United Way Campaign Chair Michael MacPherson expressed appreciation to the audience for their support in the fund-raiser. Officials expect to raise $32,000 by the end of the finale to benefit the needy in Aroostook.
Upcoming competitions include the northern Aroostook performances Friday, Feb. 15 at UMFK’s Fox Auditorium, and the finale Sunday, March 2 at Caribou Performing Arts Center.
