Chase Varnes, 13, got enough votes to move forward in the reality TV contest.
An audition Tuesday by a Saanichton teen wowed the judges onAmerica’s GotTalent, who gave the 13-year-old enough votes to move forward in the reality TV contest.
Chase Varnes, a Grade 8 student at Pacific Christian School, spoke with theTimes Colonistin advance of his televised audition, but was limited in what details he could disclose.
The reason for the secrecy was made clear during the broadcast Tuesday, when his six-minute appearance, which he taped in March in California, finally went to air as part of the program’s 20th season.
Feedback from the judges on his two-song performance was positive — Howie Mandel compared him to a young Justin Bieber, while Sofía Vergara said: “the girls are going to go crazy with you.”
Former Spice Girl Mel B said, however, that Chase was “not quite there” and needed another year to develop his confidence.
The deciding vote fell to judge emeritus Simon Cowell, whose overwhelming support pushed the teen through to the next round of auditions. “I actually do believe that you have something,” Cowell said, to cheers from the audience. “You’ve got everything going for you. The audience loved you, which is why you’re gonna get three [yes votes].”
The self-taught musician, who plays guitar, drums and piano, learned his craft busking on the streets of Sidney. One of the two songs he performed Tuesday was a piece he wrote about his grandfather, who died from a brain tumour a week before he was born.
His performance ofFace to Facewas cut short by Cowell, who wanted to hear something else in his arsenal, so Chase switched gears and performed a heartfelt cover of Ed Sheeran’sLife GoesOn, which helped him pass the audition.
The teen spoke with theTimes Coloniston Wednesday morning from school. He said his phone “blew up” during the broadcast with texts from friends and family, many of whom knew he auditioned but did not know if he had passed.
“Everyone was really excited,” he said. “It was a big surprise for a lot of people.”
More audition episodes ofAmerica’s GotTalent, which average 4.5 million viewers, will continue to air in the coming weeks, with high-pressure live shows leading up to the Aug. 20 series finale.
Chase’s next appearance on the show has not yet been announced, but a long run is not out of the question for him, despite his young age.
Nanaimo’s Lauren Spencer-Smith made it to the Top 20 ofAmerican Idolin 2020 when she was just 16, while Nanaimo dance duo Funkanometry competed as teens in 2019 on NBC’sWorld ofDance.
They also made it as young twenty-somethings to the 2024 finals ofCanada’s Got Talent.
Chase admitted to being very nervous during the taping, and wants to be laser-focused in his next on-air opportunity.
“I know I can do so much more, and give so much more, and have so much more potential than I showed last night,” he said. “But I think I did great with what I was given.”
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