The past year has been a busy one for Langley's Tiffany Desrosiers.
Since winning the first annual Langley Has Talent competition last spring, the 25-year-old singer has been on tour in various parts of the U.S. and Canada — traveling down the west coast from Washington to California, through South Carolina and Wyoming and into the eastern provinces.
Over the last 12 months, she has also been a part of two classical crossover groups and released a video for her song, Rise Above, on YouTube.
And, last Christmas, she performed at a Surrey event headlined by Fefe Dobson and These Kids Wear Crowns.
"I've also been taking Logic Pro lessons, to learn how to record," said Desrosiers, who will perform this Saturday night at Christian Life Assembly, where the winner of the second annual talent contest will be named from among the 13 finalists selected on April 21.
Desrosiers first learned about the Langley Has Talent contest through a friend of her mother's, she explained.
Although she'd already begun making a name for herself around the Lower Mainland, she liked the idea of competing in her home town.
"I thought (LHT) would be an awesome opportunity because it was a local competition," said the singer. "There aren't a lot of really local ones — they're few and far between — so it's always cool when they come up."
The fact it is a variety show and not simply a singing competition appealed to her as well, she said.
For taking the top spot in last year's contest — with her rendition of the Leonard Cohen hit, Hallelujah — Desrosiers won a $2,500 cash prize and recording time at Blue Frog Studios in White Rock, which she plans to use only when she has exactly the right song.
She also appeared as a musical guest on Shaw Cable's Urban Rush.
Although the opportunity to win cash and recording time were definitely factors in her decision to compete, Desrosiers also appreciated the atmosphere of the event — the camaraderie among the performers — she said.
"Backstage, we were singing and hanging out before we went on. It's good to hear other local talent and to make connections for possible future collaborations."
The singer's advice for this year's finalists is to look at the contest as simply an opportunity to get up and perform.
"Get your mind away from trying to win it, and just enjoy it," she said. "Perform like it's not a competition."
Sponsored by Langley's four Rotary Clubs and organized by Langley Ukulele Ensemble director, Peter Luongo, the aim of the annual Langley Has Talent contest is to raise awareness of the need for a performing arts centre in Langley, and to help build a legacy fund toward the construction of a facility similar to the Surrey Arts Centre, which is located in Bear Creek Park.
The finals of the second annual Langley Has Talent contest take place this Saturday night, May 5, at Christian Life Assembly, 21277 56 Ave. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show begins at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $20, and are available 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays at the Langley Times office, 20258 Fraser Hwy., or anytime online at langleyhastalent.ca.