“So young at 15 years-old and yet her poise and singing talent are incredibly beyond her age” so describes friend Max Francisco. Two years after that statement, the young lady proves Max’s description of her to be true.
Bernice Reyes is Ottawa Idol 2014 champion. She won the title over a significant number of contestants described to be remarkably talented last Saturday at the Algonquin Commons Theatre.
“I am so excited and so happy,” said the newly crowned titlist of Ottawa’s longest running singing contest, moments after receiving her Idol trophy.
“I just think she’s fantastic, she doesn’t miss a note,” said Eldon Fox, the founder and director of Ottawa Idol since it’s humble beginnings as Kiwanis Idol back in 2004. Fox says holding Saturday’s finals in a theatre gives all the contestants “a thrill, something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.”
Bernice is not a stranger to Tinig Pinoy Radio. She is a regular of the Ottawa-based radio show. She has performed a few times at the popular online radio with her equally talented brother Marc. She has also wowed the local Filipino community members in a number of appearances which included Tinig Pinoy’s Concert for the Victims of Typhoon Haiyan last year and at the annual community picnic in celebration of the Philippines independence. Many Tinig Pinoy Radio members, known as katinig, are fans of the young lady and of her brother, Marc.
Long time Ottawa resident and a musician himself, Max Francisco, who introduced the Reyes siblings to this writer almost two years ago now, is profuse in his praise of Bernice’s singing talent despite her very young age. He is confident that this singing sensation will make it big as a singer given a good management team.
Bernice’s family immigrated to Canada from the Philippines in 2012. She says she loves ‘this country’. With her win, she is likely to reap more successes across Canada, if not the USA. This early, Max thinks that Bernice is ready to take on American Idol. Despite the mass adulation, Bernice is unfazed.
“I love music, I can sing forever”, she adds.
Below are pictures of Bernice Reyes with brother Marc and their parents, their avid “supporters’ Max & Lilia Francisco and Tinig Pinoy’s Regina Sosing during the siblings fist LIVE performances at the show’s CKCU studios.
