Kellar, Ossachuk best at ‘Quest’

With “Quest for the Best” over for another year, there’s a new round of mini-local celebrities with new ambitions—and a thicker wallet.
Kenneth Kellar won this year’s “Quest for the Best” singing competition last Tuesday night with his energetic and powerful rendition of Matchbox Twenty’s “How Far We’ve Come.”
This is his third year in “Quest,” and surprisingly his first year to actually place.
While he captured the Most Original and People’s Choice awards last July, this year he not only scooped up Most Original and People’s Choice again, but also audience response and first place.
He won a total of $850, plus a bonus of $2,500 worth of recording time with Andrew George’s “All Good Projects.”
Kellar broke out of his shell and blew many people away quite a few years ago with his voice. He performed in musical revues and high school musical productions, most notably “Les Miserables.”
This year in “Quest,” his training and experience shone through. While there was some amazing competition on that stage, Kellar still managed to take first place, scoop up many other awards, and still remain amazingly humble about it all.
Standing back-stage with jitters, peering around the edge of the wall not believing that he heard his name called, Kellar lit right up, impressed with his accomplishments but still courteous enough to congratulate everyone else on a job well-done.
“I think that everyone deserved what they got,” he remarked. “Although, personally. I am a Journey fan and I would have liked to see [Jessica Whalen] get something for that. She did an excellent job.
“I think everyone did an awesome job for their songs,” Kellar enthused. “I was really surprised by the quality of some of the singers I’d never heard before.”
Kellar admitted he was pretty nervous before he went on stage. Understandably so—he was performing for a large group of people. But he said he can feel the change in himself as soon as he gets up there and starts doing his thing.
“I feel I know the song and once I get up there, it sort of goes away,” he said, explaining that nerves always will play a part in the minutes before performing but never make it much past the stairs to the stage.
Many of the other contestants felt the same way. Even Dylan Ossachuk, a young man of few words when put on the spot, enjoys performing. Once on stage, he lights right up and, with confidence, he belts out every word and strikes every note with verve on his guitar.
And immediately upon exiting the stage, he returns to his original demeanour—though not shy, definitely not outspoken.
Ossachuk, the first-place winner of “Kiddie Quest” this year, admitted he wasn’t exactly shy because he really enjoys performing, but was nervous about being judged.
Even his mother, Kim, conceded she could feel her nerves. “It’s pretty nerve-racking to see him go up there with all of those people watching him,” she admitted.
Ossachuk previously participated in a school talent show, a church talent show, and the singing competition at last year’s International Falls Bass Championship.
“[‘Kiddie Quest’] is a great opportunity to get kids some experiences locally instead of making them wait until they are older,” noted Kim Ossachuk.
She explained it’s great that Fort Frances offers such an opportunity to showcase talent, and to really get kids on the track of performing if that is what they really like to do.
“I think [‘Quest for the Best’] is the best opportunity we have locally for us to get out and actually show Fort Frances what we can do,” agreed Kellar.
“Without this, there’s not a lot for kids who can sing or for people who like to sing.”