Current OFC Student Natasha Pedersen is hitting the Barney Danson Theatre at the 2011 Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest to perform five original songs in front of judges and an undoubtedly packed house on Saturday, July 16, 4:00-7:30 in the first (hopefully annual!) “She’s the One Emerging Artist Competition”. Natasha, 14 years old, submitted an original song, “Grab Hold of Me” to the competition and found herself to be one of only three participants chosen. Note that applications were  accepted from across all of Canada! Up for grabs is $5000 in prize money which she is planning to put toward an album should she come out on top.

Natasha is a guitar and songwriting student of OFC teacher Justin Black (who, by the way, has his own writing contract with a bigwig record company in the States) and she also takes vocal lessons with our very own Ben Russell, power singer and guitar player of local Blues/Rock band Bluestone. In 2009, she took part in Bluesfest’s Be in the Band program where she fronted a band called Carbon Monoxide (note that Natasha would have been twelve at this time!), all of which landed them a gig on the final day of Bluesfest that year at the Blacksheep stage. Curiously, she also performs in operatic competitions and productions with help from opera heavyweight Yoriko Tanno.

“The OFC has been a great place to come and learn. There are so many talented and helpful teachers here”. Thanks Natasha! Our advice for the show? Relax and have fun. It’s one performance among many, no doubt to come. Every moment is for shining.

How the competition works: Ottawa Bluesfest organizers gathered submissions, with three finalists selected from each category.  These six finalists (above) will have a 20-minute slot to perform at the Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest for a professional jury, on Saturday July 16, 2011, beginning at 4 p.m. One winner will be chosen from each category. Judging will be based upon various criteria, including performance, stage presence/showmanship, originality, musicality, audience reaction, and the ever-important ‘It’ factor. Up for grabs are cash prizes: Band Category winner will receive $5,000; Solo Category winner will receive $2,000. There’s also the bragging rights and exposure that go along with performing at one of North America’s pre-eminent music festivals.