The judges have spoken, and three young female singers have emerged victorious, as the first annual 91原创 Has Talent contest wrapped up on Saturday night at Christian Life Assembly.

Tiffany Desrosiers took top spot in the contest 鈥� along with a $2,500 cash prize 鈥� for her rendition of the Leonard Cohen classic Hallelujah in a night that included a wide mixture of song and dance styles, as well as covers of some old favourites and a few original tunes.

Pianist and singer Sarah Tummon took second place with her performance of Norah Jones鈥� Don鈥檛 Know Why and Fernridge resident Britt Bonshor played guitar and sang her way into the third spot with an original song, titled Breaking Free. Tummon and Bonshor each received a $250 prize.

The top 15 acts, chosen from 29 semifinalists who performed on April 16, took the stage once again at CLA on April 30 to compete for $3,000 in cash and a trio of industry prize packages.

In addition to highlighting local musical talent, the contest 鈥� hosted by JRfm鈥檚 Bob Saye and presented by 91原创鈥檚 four Rotary Clubs 鈥� served to raise funds for, and awareness of the need for a dedicated performing arts centre in 91原创.

Following Desrosiers performance, judge Susan Jacks told the singer that she鈥檇 surprised the seasoned recording artist.

鈥淲hen you started, I didn鈥檛 know if you could handle it, but by the end, you blew me away. You鈥檝e got a great set of pipes,鈥� said Jacks.

Lissa Lloyd, owner of Lloyd Talent who also judged the semifinals, praised the singer鈥檚 鈥渃lear and passionate鈥� performance and 鈥渟mokey鈥� voice.

鈥淭here was a tremendous layer of passion that I looked for last time, and it really came through tonight,鈥� she said.

The night鈥檚 third judge, 91原创 City Mayor Peter Fassbender, echoed Lloyd鈥檚 sentiment.

鈥淵ou had a breathy style to start out, but as you built up, you really brought out the passion in the song,鈥� he told the singer.

Hearing her name called out in the top spot at the end of the night came as a complete surprise, said Desrosiers

鈥淚t was a wonderful feeling, and it could not have come at a better time,鈥� she said.

鈥淭hey say it鈥檚 a hard industry, but until you鈥檝e tried it for yourself (you don鈥檛 know). It can be very discouraging, and this (win) was a bump in the right direction.鈥�

The 24-year-old singer has had Hallelujah in her repertoire for the past five years, and knew it was a strong choice for the final show.

Two weeks earlier, during semifinal competition, she took a bit more of a risk and sang a relatively new song 鈥� Adele鈥檚 Someone Like You.

鈥淚 was looking for a newer cover to do, and a couple of people mentioned they thought it would suit my voice,鈥� she said of her choice of song for the semis.

As the first place winner, Desrosiers had her choice of three prize packages. She selected one that includes studio time at both Blue Frog Studios and Shaw Cable.

Although she opted to sing covers for both performances, Desrosiers does write her own music as well, she said.

Currently, she is trying to get her independent solo CD some radio airplay and expects the package she selected will help her to produce more new songs and to get her name and her music out to a wider audience.

Her new single High, can be heard on her website at tiffanydesrosiers.com.

Although she鈥檚 been performing for 15 years, Desrosiers admitted she still gets butterflies before stepping on stage.

鈥淚 can tame it more now,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 do stretches to release the (nervous) energy.鈥�

鈥淚 was so impressed by all the other acts. I thought everyone brought something really special,鈥�  said Desrosiers.

鈥淎nd I would like to thank all of the judges, volunteers, organizers, and the Rotary Clubs of 91原创 for sponsoring the event and for all their hard work.鈥�

For 18-year-old Tummon, the competition offered an opportunity to perform in public.

鈥淚t just really boosted my confidence,鈥� said the Grade 12 music major at 91原创 Fine Arts School.

After singing Sarah McLachlan鈥檚 Angel in the semifinal round (the same song she鈥檇 performed at her aunt鈥檚 funeral a year earlier) Tummon turned to another female singer-songwriter for her finals entry 鈥� Norah Jones鈥� Don鈥檛 Know Why 鈥� for her second place finish.

鈥淭he music really spoke to me. It鈥檚 so beautiful, and so is the imagery.鈥�

Although she鈥檚 been playing since she was six, Tummon described herself as 鈥渁 closet singer鈥� until she was 13 or 14.

鈥淚 was always a little bit shy,鈥� she explained.

Nineteen-year-old Bonshor, meanwhile, began playing guitar at 15 in order to accompany herself at open mic nights, explained the singer-songwriter.

Like her song Seven which she performed for the contest semifinal鈥檚, Bonshor鈥檚 third-place winning song Breaking Free is an original piece, written about her own life experiences 鈥� specifically a night she was grounded by her dad when she wanted to go to a swing dance.

鈥淚t was snowing, but I snuck out in my dancing shoes,鈥� said Bonshor.

The teenager made her way across a snowy paddock and to a nearby convenience store where her friend was waiting.

鈥淲hen (my dad) saw my footprints in the snow the next morning, he was more impressed than mad,鈥� she laughed.

In addition to the contestants鈥� performances, the audience was treated to a short comedy act by Cliff Prang during intermission and a two-song acoustic set from country star Aaron Pritchett following the competition, while the judges made their selections.

The singer, who makes his home in Aldergrove when he鈥檚 not on the road, told the crowd about his own involvement with talent contests, and how winning Project Discovery in 2001 helped to kick start his career.

Far from being an end in itself, cautioned Pritchett, the competition is 鈥渁 stepping stone to get them to that next level.

鈥淚t鈥檚 about what you do after winning the contest.鈥�

Organizer Peter Luongo was delighted with the way the two concerts 鈥� six months in the works 鈥� played out.

"I felt really good about it.There were a couple of little glitches that are always going to happen," he said.

"It's very clear our community has a tremendous amount of talent and it's clear that talent needs a place where it can be shared," he said.

Some people might agree with the judges' choices, while others may not, Luongo said. But the end result is that it gets people talking about the arts 鈥� which is a huge victory in itself.

"It has created a bit of a buzz. It was cool to hear that buzz afterward 鈥� 'I'd have voted for this person.'

"The night was about raising awareness and starting a fund, and both those things happened."

The 91原创 Has Talent final competition will air on Shaw television on May 21 at 4 p.m. and again on May 29 at 2 p.m.