The always popular GX94 Talent Search celebrated its 20th anniversary by crowning a new champion.Rayanne Ottenbreit became only the second winner from Yorkton -- Samara Yung was the first -- in the two decades of the contest being the judges' pick from among the eight finalists performing June 26."Saturday night was kind of funny. I was really excited, but I was kind of numb too," said the latest Talent Search champion.
There may have been an essence of fate involved for Ottenbreit, who recounted she went to pick her number for the order she would perform. When she got back to her seat her boyfriend flashed a sign that she had selected number three, which she had.
"That's his lucky number," she said.
While luck might have been tilted in her favour, Ottenbreit said at no point did she think she had won until she heard her name called.
"You try not to get ahead of yourself," she said.
In fact, Ottenbreit said she has come to respect that all the finalists are talented.
But music, and whether someone, including the judges, likes it, or not, "is based on opinion," she offered.
With that in mind, Ottenbreit said she focused on the performance, the atmosphere, and less on possible outcomes.
"I just try to enjoy the performance, and don't think about placements," she said.
For her two-song set Ottenbreit went with Trishia Yearwood's Heaven, Heartache & the Power of Love, and Cowboy Casanova from Carrie Underwood.
"Cowboy Casanova I just heard it last year, and really loved it. It's really fun," she said.
Ottenbreit said the song was "difficult in my range," but added "after all that hard work (learning it) I thought I may as well put it to use."
While the songs might not be obvious choices, Ottenbreit said that is the way she is."I'm more prone to doing things that are different," she said.
The fact that Ottenbreit is singing country though is something she never really expected."When I was younger I would have said I'd never be a country singer," admitted the 19-year-old with a smile. "But country's really growing on me."
With the win comes the opportunity to hit the recording studio to lay down two songs. While choosing covers for the finals, Ottenbreit said she'd like to have originals on the disk.
"I really, really want to co-write," she said. "I've been writing a lot more of my own stuff in the last year, but I'd like to write with somebody more experienced than me. I think I could learn a lot."
Ottenbreit said music has always been something she has wanted to pursue, and the win was a step in that journey.
"My mom used to tell me I sang before I talked," she said with a smile. "It's always been something I've had a big passion for."
Whether that means a career in music, Ottenbreit isn't sure. She said it's more of a case of wanting to simply enjoy music and performing "at whatever level I'm at."
Ottenbreit said she will take whatever music brings her.
"Maybe it not on Billboard's Top-40, but I'll still be involved," she said. "It's not being discouraged and taking it as it comes."
Being practical, Ottenbreit added having a successful music career is not easy.
"It's not a dream many can achieve," she said.
In the meantime Ottenbreit is looking forward to a busy year as GX champion.
"It's looking like it's going to be pretty busy It's going to be pretty go, go, go," she said, noting that includes performances at Dauphin CountryFest, Swan River Stampede, and the Yorkton Exhibition parade.
