Practice makes perfect

The sun is just starting to peek through the clouds on an otherwise typical Wednesday morning — and the Kamloops Happy Choristers choir is busy fine-tuning some of its numbers.

While the group’s sound is in fine form, there is one standout among the crowd.

At first glance, Jeanne Rodrigue blends in with her cohorts — dressed in a conservative red top, sporting glasses and a short salt-and-pepper hairstyle.

But, only a couple of weeks ago, she was on a whirlwind trip to Toronto that ended with the 72-year-old winning a national singing competition.

Rodrigue beat the odds and hundreds of other singers and musicians from across the country to claim first place — and the title of Senior Star.

“I was thrilled to death,” she said of earning the top honours for her vocal prowess on a version of the classic Lady is a Tramp.

“It’s wonderful.”

The annual national-singing competition, sponsored by Chartwell Seniors Housing, offers a chance for seniors 65 and older to show off their musical talents.

Rodrigue’s journey to the top began in July when she won the regional competition at the Renaissance Retirement Residence.

Seventy-one regional winners were later narrowed down to a top 10, which included Rodrigue.

The finalists competed at the national event in Toronto on Oct. 19.

The competition will air on national television in February.

Rodrigue said she didn’t expect to make it to Ontario for the finale, let alone finish first.

“I’m not that competitive,” she said.

In fact, the senior songstress didn’t expect anything would come from her years of crooning.

Rodrigue didn’t take an interest in singing until she was a stay-at-home mom in her 20s.

Looking for an outlet at the time, she decided to take voice lessons and join a choir.

“It just grew from there,” she said.

Since then, she’s been singing at every chance and has involved herself in several choirs around town through the years.

While all the glitz, glamour and attention of the event — which included limo service, staying in a posh hotel and fronting a seven-piece band — might go to one’s head, it won’t be the case for Rodrigue.

She doesn’t intend to enter next year’s competition, preferring to spread the success around to fellow residents.

“I think Kamloops is full of really talented people,” she said.

Instead, Rodrigue will go back to blending in with the rest of her choir-mates and doing what she loves to do — sing.

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