Karaoke crooners off to Finland after Canadian championship wins in Calgary

What's normally an activity for your local bar on any given night turned into a competition with international implications over the long weekend.

Calgary played host to the Karaoke World Championships Canada.

Singers from across the country followed words on a screento try and win the right to be called the best in the nation.

Sharon Quinn, the competition'snational director, says karaoke attracts some very talented vocalists,and that people don't give it a fair shake.

"I'd love to enlighten some people. Generally speaking anyone who comes with us to one of these regional level competitions, it's infectious," she said, adding competitors from the national championship qualify as some of the most talented amateur singers in the country.

"We change their minds pretty quickly. So it's not really something you can put in words, you have to experience it."

Belting it out in front of more than a 100strangers at the Deerfoot Casino is a new experience for Ontario's Kate Dion.

"Singing on a stage is foreign compared to singing in bars and stuff like that," said the Hamilton native."It's wonderful."

Mike Smorden didn't travel quite as far, but the local social worker loves competing on the karaoke circuit.

"They're accepting no matter what you sound like so it's just a great time," he said.

Calgary's Sean Brittonwas crowned the men's champion whileChristine Costafrom Hamilton,Ont.,won both the women's title and the duet championship withDustin Jodway.

They get a free trip to Finland in December for the Karaoke World Championships. The world champion wins a $10,000 US prize and will be invited to come back to perform next year.

This isn't the first time a Calgarian has represented Canada.April Yuetook the national championship in Calgary last year.

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