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Manitoba Voice co-organizer Colleen Flynn, says this year\u2019s competition was one of the best yet, showcasing the incredible musical talent found across the province. PortageOnline\/Maryssa McFadden<\/p>\nTen contestants took to the stage at the William Glesby Centre on Saturday night for the fifth Manitoba Voice competition. The sold-out show drew around 200 audience members who cheered on the local talent, each bringing a unique sound and story to the stage.<\/p>\n
After the last note had been sung and the last chord played, Penny Buhr was crowned the first-place winner. A musician and songwriter from Saskatchewan, she wowed both judges and the crowd with her original song \u201cNo Time to Be Blue, Mr. Man in the Moon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just really happy to be part of it,\u201d Buhr says, reflecting on the experience. \u201cThere was so much talent on that stage. I wasn\u2019t nervous, just excited to share my song. When they called my name for first place, I was shocked. It was such an amazing feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buhr, who is visually impaired due to retinitis pigmentosa, says music has long been her anchor. The song she performed was inspired by her personal journey of rediscovering joy and confidence through music after losing her vision.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a reminder to snap out of the blues. You can\u2019t wait for the man in the moon to fix things; you\u2019ve got to start taking your own good steps forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
A celebration of local talent<\/p>\n
The Manitoba Voice, originally launched as The Manitoba Country Voice in 2017, was created by Colleen Flynn, who brought on Charlie and Mavis Brennan to celebrate the region\u2019s rich pool of musical talent. This year, the competition opened its stage to all genres, inviting singers and songwriters of every style to share their voices.<\/p>\n
“There’s so much local talent within our own community and the surrounding area. I thought that it would be an awesome event, so that people have a chance to get on a concert-sized stage, perform, and show us their talent. Most of them wouldn’t otherwise get that opportunity,” Flynn explains.<\/p>\n
Manitoba Voice co-organizer Colleen Flynn, says this year\u2019s competition was one of the best yet, showcasing the incredible musical talent found across the province. PortageOnline\/Maryssa McFadden<\/p>\n
Flynn, who first came up with the idea while working at the Glesby Centre, says this year\u2019s event was one of her favorites yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt just had more life to it. Maybe it\u2019s because we\u2019ve got the nerves out of the way after five shows, but everything just clicked.\u201d<\/p>\n
The evening also featured live performances from Busted, a popular local band that entertained the audience between contestants\u2019 sets and during the judges\u2019 deliberations.<\/p>\n
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Charlie and Mavis Brennan say the judges faced a tough challenge picking winners, with every contestant delivering standout performances. Submitted Photo\/Charlie Brennan<\/p>\n
\u201cFor $25, people got a talent show and a mini-concert, which makes it such a fun night for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tough choices for the judges<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s judging panel brought together three Manitoba musicians: John Einarson, a respected music historian and author; Murray Pulver, a producer and former member of Doc Walker; and Trevor Handford, a Portage drummer and longtime performer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the judges had a really difficult time trying to pick who was going to be the winners,\u201d says Mavis Brennan. \u201cEvery contestant was so talented, so it could have gone a number of ways.\u00a0I wouldn’t want to have been a judge that evening!”<\/p>\n
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This year\u2019s Manitoba Voice judges brought their expertise to the panel, tackling the tough task of choosing winners from an exceptionally talented lineup of performers. Submitted Photo\/Charlie Brennan<\/p>\n
In the end, the top three were announced as:<\/p>\n
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1st Place: Penny Buhr<\/p>\n
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2nd Place: Shawn Pallister<\/p>\n
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3rd Place: Jo-Hannah Atchison<\/p>\n
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People\u2019s Choice: Tylor Baer<\/p>\n
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\u201cAll of them were just incredible,\u201d Brennan adds. \u201cPenny was fantastic, and Shawn and Jo-Hannah really brought their best. Tylor winning People\u2019s Choice made perfect sense because he connected with the audience beautifully.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Tylor Baer holding his People\u2019s Choice Award following Saturday night\u2019s Manitoba Voice competition at the William Glesby Centre in Portage la Prairie. Submitted Photo\/Tylor Baer<\/p>\n
Baer says he was taken aback when his name was called.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, my jaw hit the floor. I was stunned,\u201d he explains. “I know I was up against some seriously incredible competition, and I\u2019m just so glad that in the end I did justice to Disturbed\u2019s cover of ‘Sound of Silence’ and really let the audience feel that same raw emotion that song gives me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Community spirit front and centre<\/p>\n
Beyond the music, The Manitoba Voice continues to be a community-driven success story. Sponsors, including DC Security, Over the Coals, Ian\u2019s Hardware, and Flynn Memorial Services, made the event possible, while audience members packed the seats and cheered loudly from start to finish.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe familiar faces and new ones, they are what keep this show going,\u201d says Flynn. \u201cFrom contestants to sponsors to ticket holders, we couldn\u2019t do it without them.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
As for what\u2019s next, the organizing committee plans to return in 2026. But judging by Saturday\u2019s energy, The Manitoba Voice isn\u2019t just an event. It\u2019s becoming a Portage tradition.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re so proud of how far it\u2019s come,\u201d says Charlie Brennan. \u201cIt\u2019s about music, yes, but it\u2019s also about community, and that\u2019s what makes it so special.\u201d<\/p>\n