Nobleton singer shares stage with Suzie McNeil
By Bill Rea

Suzie McNeil and Nobleton resident Amanda Belardinelli teamed up last Sunday night for a performance of her hit song Believe in Newmarket. Submitted photo

Most aspiring young musicians dream about getting on stage and performing with their idols.

For Nobleton's Amanda Belardinelli, it became reality last Sunday, as she appeared on stage in Newmarket with rock and soul singer Suzie McNeil, who is currently on a tour of the country. The pair teamed up for a rendition of her hit song Believe, which is the theme song for the 2010 Olympics. The performance was greeted with enthusiastic applause from the audience and a high-five from McNeil.

"It went really good," Amanda commented later. "I wish I could do it again. She was really nice. She talked to me a lot."

As part of the promotion for the tour, McNeil has been running a contest, with singers hoping to join her on stage auditioning on You Tube, and having others vote. Amanda, 15, put in her application about two weeks before the Newmarket stop. Keeping as many bases as possible covered, she also auditioned for McNeil's appearance in Brampton.

Amanda said she's been a fan of McNeil since she saw her on Rock Star: INXS.

"I just liked her style," she explained. "We had really similar tastes in music. I liked the way she dressed. She seemed like a really nice person."

She also confessed she really didn't expect to win. She learned she would be on stage Sunday night first thing Friday morning, by email.

The news didn't require much alteration to her plans for the Sunday evening. Amanda said she had been planning to attend the concert anyway.

"A lot," went through her head when she got the big news.

"I was just really excited," she added. "There were a lot of other skilled and talented competitors."

Amanda is certainly one of them. She's been undergoing training at the Arcadia Academy of music for five years, studying a variety of styles, including classical, classical rock, Broadway, etc. She also plays piano and guitar. And the Grade 9 student also played percussion in the junior concert band at King City Secondary School.