Mount Uniacke teen needs help to become The Next Star

By Christy Marsters

The Hants journal/NovaNewsNow.com

A youth from Mount Uniacke seeks local support as votes pour in from across the county to determine the winner of a singing superstar reality series concluding Sept. 28.

Dunnery Bond, 14, has been selected as one of six finalists throughout Canada to partake in the last round of YTV’s 13-part reality show series The Next Star.

Hosted by Adamo Ruggerio with musician Suzie McNeil from Rockstar, INXS songwriter Christopher Ward, and music marketing executive Steve Cranwell stepping in to mentor the young hopefuls, the show aims to test the limits of the young stars with every element of the biz.

It’s exciting to be the only person left to represent the entire East Coast, Dunnery said. “This has been such a great opportunity… I think it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.

“It’s a very big deal to me,” he said. “Music is something I love and something I really want to pursue because when you’re doing something you love then it’s not work.

“I’ve given this my all,” he added. “And, so far, people have seemed to like my all.”

Viewers can now decide if Dunnery’s all is enough to win the competition by casting votes through text messaging or online at www.YTV.com. The winner of the show will receive a recording contract with Universal Music Canada, with the leading single to be featured on YTV’s Big Fun Party Mix 10, along with a professional music video airing.

Each of the six finalists will also release a solo song on The Next Star upcoming album.

Derek Bond, Dunnery’s father, says singing is his son’s real passion and something he has been involved in for years. “And he’s always done well at things he’s auditioned for.”

People in Hants County have been quite surprised to hear that this is something Dunnery is doing because being from this area makes singing a harder industry to get into, Derek said. “There’s a lot of traveling to it… We’re just lucky that I’ve been able to stay home.”

However, knowing how much he enjoys it makes all the efforts worthwhile, Derek added.