By Kristy Lesh
Tuesday June 27, 2006
Peace River Record Gazette
 
Former Peace resident Sheldon Elter was chosen from more than 200 idol hopefuls to be among the 22 finalists in the Canadian Idol competition.
 
He took the stage for his first live performance Monday night and is competing against 10 other male finalists.

Elter, an actor and playwright who is currently working in construction in Fort McMurray, was born in Peace River and grew up in Grimshaw.

The 27-year-old theatre arts graduate from Grant MacEwan College produced and toured his play Métis Mutt throughout Canada and New Zealand and recently directed the play Dead Man Talking written by friend Jeremy Baumung.

Elter was chosen over 12,000 other competitors and survived seven rounds of auditions in front of Canadian Idol’s four-member judging panel. In the episodes which aired last Tuesday, Elter seemed to sail through the initial elimination rounds. The judges were impressed with the group performance of Baby, I Love Your Way involving Rob James, Elter, Tony Caruso and Bernard Quilala.

One of the judges told the group they should record the song but only James and Elter moved on to the final 22.

Elter said he has bonded with James, an experienced singer formerly of McMaster and James.

Family is important to Elter who attributes his mother as the inspiration in his life.

“My family couldn’t be happier for me at how far I have made it in this competition,” he said. “I think that they are a little worried that they might see a lot less of me in the future.”

Although Elter has made it this far in the competition, his fate now lies in the hands of the voting public.

After his live performance yesterday, viewers were able to vote by using the toll free number or by text messaging on their cell phones. The results will air Wednesday on CTV.