New karaoke champ crowned at fair

Qasim Huzair is third in his family to win the singing title

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – Qasim Huzair, 20, of Lyndonville sings “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses. Huzair won the karaoke competition at the Orleans County 4-H Fair on Thursday, earning $500 for first place.

Huzair has been performing at karaoke at the fair for about a decade. He usually sings songs from musicals. He qualified for the finals with “Corner of the Sky” from Pippin.

“I just wanted to have fun and have fun with the audience,” he said about changing to a hard rocker for the finals.

Huzair said it was humbling to win because all of the 15 singers in the finals put on a good show.

Huzair is the third person in his family to win the karoke title. His sister Tamara and brother Ayman also won the crown.

Qasim’s sister Leylah and brother Amir also performed in the finals on Thursday. About 500 people watched the event.

Qasim is a music education student at Roberts Wesleyan College.

The top five at the karaoke finals are shown on Thursday after the top performers were announced by six judges. From left include Qasim Huzair of Lyndonville, first ($500 prize); Gideon Pask of Barre, second ($250 prize); Greg Stanton of Medina, third ($125); Olivia Manfredi of Kendall, fourth ($75); and Samual Robinson of Albion, fifth ($50).

(Left) Brilyn Rebisz, 19, of Bergen sings “The House That Built Me” by Miranda Lambert, while Brilyn’s mother, Joceyln Rebisz of Bergen, performs “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”

Evan Steier of Albion, an elementary teacher at Albion, sings “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood.

Carrie Clay of Albion sings “Proud Mary” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Andy Remillard sings “Bed Of Roses” by Bon Jovi.

Greg Stanton sings “Call Me The Breeze” by Lynyrd Skynyrd during the karaoke finals. Stanton, 69, is a retired signmaker. He is part of a band, Stanton, that is making its debut this year at many local concert series. The band will be performing Monday evening at the Yates Community Library.

Stanton came in third in the karaoke competition. He is shown interacting with the crowd, trying to get people up and dancing.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Stanton said about performing. “I should have done this 40 years ago.”

Gideon Pask, 16, of Barre proved a crowd favorite with his deep bass voice singing “The Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash.

Samuel Robinson of Albion performers “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone, and Phoebe Allen of Albion sings “Goodbye Earl” by the Dixie Chicks.