Vancouver Island's Got Talent

Maria Manna - Show Host

Maria Manna entertains audiences in Canada, the United States and Europe. She exudes professional confidence and a magnetic charm that is woven into her performances, from swing to ballad and jazz. Audiences are enthralled by her vocal presence and instinctive lyrical sense.

She has performed for iconic former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau at the Jubilee Auditorium and was also honored as an inductee into the Music Archives of Alberta.

Additional highlights of her career include performing with double Grammy award winner Paul Horn, the George Haden Orchestra, the Tommy Banks Orchestra, the Paul Brunetti Orchestra and opening for the Beach Boys. Her movie credits include the principal vocalist role as well as script coach for “The Engagement Ring”. She was proud to have been chosen to entertain the Canadian Military in Aviano, Italy and the Canadian Military in Bosnia on a ten-day tour. Maria's self-entitled CD is receiving rave reviews across North America and Europe.

Johnny Bagpipes

More than just plaid, Johnny "Bagpipes" Johnston delivers his hilarious comedy performance with a Scottish twist that bowls audiences over.

Where Rock & Roll collides with the pipes, you'll find Johnny.

From appearances at Caesars Palace and the Freemont Street Experience in Las Vegas, to opening shows for Wide Mouth Mason, Kansas, 54/40 and Rich Little, Johnny serves up good natured laughs for audiences from all walks of life.

His humour has tickled hundreds of corporate conferences such as McDonalds, Esso/Exxon, CNIB and many, many more! Johnny has filmed his own one-hour special "Stand Up Safari" in South Africa exclusively for the Comedy Network.

His new special for Bravo Network titled "They Pipe Among Us" will leave you with a greater appreciation for bagpipes and the people who play them.

Michael Burke

Being the son of professional dancers introduced Michael to the world of music and movement from a very early age. His parents' insistence in saying, "no, no - your other left foot", was his introduction to walking.

Since that time he has found himself involved in theatre, dance, music and art. It's not that he is good at any of it, but he has a talent for seeing the potential in artists of all sorts.

Founding Cordova Bay Entertainment Group in 1999 he has provided local, national and international audiences with a wide range of artistic expression in the forms of dance, plays, film and music.

Cordova Bay Records has a roster of talent that has sold at gold, platinum, and double platinum levels here in Canada along side chart topping singles and albums. Currently, the roster includes Acres of Lions, Vince Vaccaro, Porkbelly Futures, Krome, Bill Bourne, Wyckham Porteous, State of Shock and the late Paul Quarrington.

As part owner of fierce panda records in the UK and Maple Music Recordings/Open Road Recordings/Fontana North Distribution/Sonic Unyon Distribution in Toronto the roster past and present includes names like: Sam Roberts, David Usher, Never-ending White Lights, Martha Wainwright, Colin James, Johnny Reid, Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift, Road Hammers, Placebo, Polyphonic Suite, Death Cab For Cutie, Keane and Coldplay. The full list is quite long.

Michael lives in Victoria.

BJ Cook

Singer/songwriter BJ Cook with her then husband David Foster formed the band Skylark with their #1 hit Wild Flower, wrote with, Michael McDonald, and with Music Icon Dominic Troiano. Her daughter Amy Foster who has recently written the book Autumn Leaves wrote 4 #1 hits including Home and Everything for Michael Buble.

Craig Fraser

After a decade leading a successful pop-rock band, Craig decided to use his musical skills on the other side of the glass in the recording studio, where he is now an accomplished Engineer and Producer at Oakstone Sound.

When asked to be a judge of Victoria Idol 2010, Craig enthusiastically took on the challenge of providing constructive, though frank, criticism to the participants. Although naturally prone to joking and laughing with contestants, he also offered them his keen insight into their unique “star power” and helped them see their performances from the audience’s perspective, invariably improving their ability to project more sophisticated musical presentations.

This year, Craig has teamed up with VIGT to act as judge, consultant and sponsor.

Christina Morrison

Christina Morrison has been dancing her whole life. With a background in music (she also plays the saxophone) as well as ballet, jazz and competitive ballroom, she has been dancing salsa for over 17 years and is one of the only instructors in Canada certified by the World Salsa University in Puerto Rico. For 10 years Christina has been the director & choreographer of the internationally touring dance company Salsa Caliente and has travelled to perform all over the West Coast as well as in Italy, Puerto Rico, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, the Bahamas and Mexico. She has competed for Canada in the World Salsa Open Championships and is now a qualifying judge. Christina has performed with some of the top salsa dancers in the world including Jhesus Aponte, Jayson Molina & Stacey Lopez from Puerto Rico and Steve Seda (Descarga Latina) & Carlos Figueroa (Eddie Torres Dance Company) from New York. She has choreographed for Salsa Team Canada, Dance Victoria's Stars on Stage Dance Challenge, and a music video for Juno nominated band "The Puentes Brothers". She has also had the honour of dancing on tour with Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca and Grammy Award winners Spanish Harlem Orchestra.

Carilynn Nicholson

“If Mary Tyler Moore and Ruth Buzzi had a love child, it would be Carilynn Nicholson” -- Agloolik Spiegel, The Nunavut Daily Tribune

Carilynn recently returned to B.C. after over a decade of entertaining her fellow mental patients on the east coast. Hailing from Victoria, by way of Jupiter, she‘s been scaring and scarring audiences the entire time. Whether discussing life on the other Earth, her epidermal cocoon or her oral adventures with Mr. Clean, she’s a force to be reckoned with. Armed with a rubber face and gesticulating hands she’s been referred to as Jim Carilynn, however, since the birth of her son she now tends to go with her native name, Pees When She Laughs.

Pees When She Laughs is a co-founder of the critically acclaimed female comedy troupe, From The Mouths of Babes and the Toronto sketch troupe, Plus One Dagger. She has also been on She's So Funny, Comedy Now, The Toronto Show and CBC Radio's Brave New Waves and Madly Off in all Directions. Carilynn is proud and excited to be part of Vancouver Island’s Got Talent.

Cris Vleck

Cris Vleck began his career as a stage actor. From there he moved on to sketch an stand up comedy where he toured throughout Western Canada.

Cris wrote and perfected a show that featured interactive comedy. More than just improv, the comedy troupe would grab people from the audience and lead them through pre-written sketches.

He eventually shifted from theatre to the screen where his performing credits include television, and radio. Cris' writing projects include independent films, television scripts, comedy material for aspiring comedians, as well as a book of comedy sketches that has been published in the U.S.

Cris now spends his time running his marketing and advertising company. He is really excited to be working with VIGT and looks forward to meeting the new talents that Vancouver Island has to offer.

Jeff Neill

Jeff Neill has been in the music industry for over 35 years. He has toured and recorded internationally with Canadian Hall of Famers Streetheart and Loverboy as well Australian rock icon Jimmy Barnes. As a writer and co-writer, he has had over 50 songs recorded and has earned numerous gold, platinum and multi platinum awards around the world. Jeff has played on 4 continents and has shared the stage with the likes of the Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, Sting and Bryan Adams. He has worked as an arranger and consultant for Disney and has a long list of credits as composer and featured performer in many North American advertising campaigns. He continues to be a prolific writer and producer and currently manages the business affairs of Kenny Shields and Streetheart which continues to be a solid fixture on the Canadian music scene.

Show Credits