Singer hits the right note on international stage.
Scarborough-native Eleni Alexandris performs during a live show of X-Factor, a Greek reality vocal talent show. Alexandris, who has been honing her craft since she was a teenager, is a judge and fan favourite on the show.
Courtesy photo
It's been said that hard work, determination and perseverance are the only ways to achieve your goals.Mix in family values, faith and some natural talent and you have a recipe for success. This indeed appears to be the case for Eleni Alexandris.
The 25-year-old Scarborough native is living out her dream - live on Greek TV.
Alexandris is a contestant on the Greek reality vocal talent show, X-Factor. The singer, musician and vocal teacher was one of 10,000 people who answered an open call audition notice that appeared in the Greek media back in June.
She's now into week three of live performances - and has become a favourite with the panel of judges and fans.
"One of the main points as to why I might be doing so well in the competition thus far is that I have a lot of experience. I'm a very hard worker and I might be a teacher, but I'm a very good student," she said in a phone interview from Athens, Greece.
"I can be in charge or I can be on the other side as well and take the criticism and work it to my benefit...so I can be a better performer and have people enjoy what I do, because I love what I do."
How can you not love this: make up, wardrobe, choreography, rehearsals, voice lessons, shooting promotional pictures and videos while living out your dream performing for millions of people every week around the world.
Antenna, the network which produces X-Factor, can be seen by requesting the channel on your cable package. Like American Idol, people at home can vote for their favourite performer to save them from elimination. Even those living outside of Greece can vote.
Alexandris is part of the 25 and older team of female singers that started with 20 vocalists and has now dwindled down to just three in her category.
But the singer says she doesn't get caught up in all the glitz, glamour or the hype.
Delivering the best performance possible is her one and only goal. "I'm a perfectionist and I'm very much into detail and I want everything to be neat and perfect and exactly where it needs to be at all times. I enjoy knowing what I'm dong. I don't like not being organized. I will not do well."
On last week's episode, all four judges, including the "Simon Cowell" of the group gave the singer the best reviews of the night, going as far as saying she's the best in her category.
Alexandris said the comment humbled her - and it's made her even more determined to push herself to her creative edge.
But this extraordinary journey in Greece started many years ago singing Greek songs with her family, participating in everything involving music and theatre at Agincourt Collegiate Institute, leading the church choir at the parish in which her father is a priest to performing with the Cathedral Bluffs Orchestra, at The Myth on the Danforth and at dozens of community events and festivals.
While she admits moving to Greece in March 2008 was imperative to achieve her dream of becoming a professional singer - she performed for two seasons on the club circuit with some of the biggest names in the Greek recording industry - she says Scarborough is always close to her heart.
"I love Toronto and Scarborough is my neighbourhood and where I grew up so I never forget where I come from and my roots, and I always have fun when I come back home. But this was the step I had to take in order to further myself and be happy with what I've been doing."
On the show the singer has performed in both English and Greek and already has two studio albums under her belt which she recorded before leaving.
During the live shows, Alexandris always finds the opportunity to inject a shout out to her hometown during the judges' critique - even going so far as to correct the judges when they use the general term of America when referring to Canada.
"I'm very proud of the fact that I can show that there are countries, like Canada, who support our multiculturalism and allow us to explore and be educated in our roots. Which I think is very, very, very important because we know where we came from," she said.
"My parents were not born in Canada, they were born here in Greece. I'm very proud to be a Greek-Canadian. I love being both. I love being able to explain to people that yes, I'm of Greek descent with Greek roots and background and I do feel 100 per cent Greek but I'm 100 per cent Canadian as well..... I feel 100 per cent both."
Those who have been by her side from the moment she decided to pursue this path, aren't surprised with her current fame.
Victoria Mendes, the young singer's mentor, vocal coach and employer at the York Region Conservatory of Music says her protege's stage presence and performance quality is an evolution that couldn't be stopped. "Now when I see her, she's completely polished. She's really changed. You go from trying to be a performer to looking, acting and sounding like a superstar, really...I think she's going to go far."
Mendes, who is a registered adjudicator in Canada, says from a judges' point of view, her performances have been flawless.
"When I see her now and where she is vocally, she's exceptional. The way she looks and acts, her stage presence, everything is just exceptional. She's gone way above and beyond."
While her immediate family remains here in Canada - their pride can be felt an ocean away.
"I have grown up with constant love and support from my family and I'm very lucky for that and I appreciate everything that they have done for me. Although my parents and brother are not here physically, there is such a strong bond and connection and therefore I don't feel alone at all," she said.
"I am very proud and happy that I have been able to give such pride and joy to everyone in Canada and I will continue to do so. Knowing this, it gives me the extra boost I need to push myself to the limits and be as good as I can be."
The next live X-Factor will air live Friday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. (Toronto time) and 9 p.m. (Greece time). For those who don't have access to the live feed, they can watch it on a simulcast on Odyssey TV beginning at 9 p.m. EST.
Alexandris says judging from the reaction during rehearsals, the fourth live show is going to be one to watch.
"We're dedicating the entire show to the '80s....I have an English song and I cannot reveal what it is, but it's going to be fun.... I'm very excited about that. It's a very, very, very well-known song so I think (everyone) will enjoy it."
For those who don't have access to Greek TV, there's always YouTube.
All of Eleni's performances can be viewed at www.youtube.com/elenialexandris