VOCALISTS from across the province are once again invited to audition for this year's Variety's Got Talent.

North Vancouver's Asha Diaz won the contest last time around. The winner of the third annual competition will receive a Rising Star music package and appear on the Variety Show of Hearts Telethon in February 2013.

Finalists will perform before a panel of music industry and celebrity judges, including music manager Bruce Allen and The Province's Stuart Derdeyn.

The competition is open to all B.C. residents ages 13-29. Audition videos should be submitted to varietysgottalent.ca from Jan. 2 to 16, 2013. Variety requests that videos run between two-three minutes, with singers performing a capella, to track, or with acoustic guitar or keyboard accompaniment.

Ten finalists will compete in the Variety's Got Talent Finals on Feb. 9 with nine of the finalists chosen by the judges with the 10th chosen by the public in the People's Choice Competition. Fans can log onto The Province newspaper's website and vote for their favourite performer from Jan. 27 to Feb. 3 to select the 10th finalist.

All finalists will perform before a panel of judges and a live audience at the River Rock Show Theatre on February 9. The winner will be announced at the end of the show and will appear on the Variety Show of Hearts Telethon that airs live on Global BC on Feb. 16 and 17.