B.C.'s Desire Dawson takes CBC Searchlight's top prize with ethereal voice

Surrey, B.C.'sDesire Dawson has won CBC Music's Searchlight competition, earning the grand prize valued at $50,000.

The singer-songwriter, who'strack Hideshowcasesher ethereal vocals,was selected from more than 2,000 musician hopefuls in the annual online talent contest.

People could vote on their favourites and the finalists performed in front of an audience and judgesduring a special on CBC-TV Sunday evening.

The judges includedrapper-producer Maestro Fresh Wes and Sarah Blackwood from the band Walk off the Earth.

Dawson's top prizeincludes $25,000 worth of equipment from Yamaha Canadaand aCanadian Musician magazine package with astudio session, mentorship, album production anddistribution, worth more than $25,000.

She'll also make an appearance at the CBC Music Festival in Toronto May 28.

You can learn more aboutDawsonhere.