Crazy wins it for Manitoba singer

The lady in white proved to be just right Saturday evening.

Attired in an all-white dress, Julianna Moore from Saint Lazare, MB., took to the Painted Hand Casino Main Stage at the Yorkton Exhibition as one of eight finalists in the annual GX94 Star Search Final.

Moore began by taking on the challenging ‘Crazy’ made famous by Patsy Cline. After wowing the crowd with her performance of the Cline classic, she turned to the equally challenging ‘In the Arms of an Angel’ from Sarah McLachlan.

The one-two punch proved enough to take home the crown.

Asked what the win was like, the first word Moore managed was “surreal”.

“I’m just amazed and so humbled and excited.”

Moore, who was in her first year of competition, said she decided to try her luck after a bit of a push from family.

“My family really wanted me to do it,” said the University of Brandon student.

Moore, who is working on a Bachelor of Music degree, said singing has been part of her life for as long as she can remember.

“Music is everything to me,” noting her earliest memories include music.

So what of her performance Saturday night?

Moore said she was aware ‘Crazy’ was something of a risk in the sense if she missed on it, she was unlikely to win.

“People said it was a difficult song,” she admitted, but she added it was a song she really wanted to do. “I love Patsy Cline and it’s one of my favourite songs by her.

‘In the Arms of an Angel’ actually presented a greater challenge for Moore, who said she began singing it in her car, and was missing notes for some time before she finally got it right.

Moore said she was glad she persevered.

“It’s so, so beautiful. It touches me. It touches people. That’s why I did it,” she said.

Moore, who said music was always going to be her career path, said the GX94 Star Search win could open a door to a different path in music.

“This is a step,” she said. “I’m just hoping this takes me places.”

One place it will certainly take her is to the recording studio as part of the prize package is a chance to lay down a two-song EP.

Moore said she is looking forward to that opportunity, adding it is unlikely she’ll be recording ‘Crazy’ or ‘In the Arms of an Angel’.

“I write songs. I’m hoping to put some of them out there and hope it goes well,” she said.