With $10G on line, rising singer hopes for breakthrough performance in Hartford

Mica Peterson has played a lot of gigs, but Monday night's could be her biggest. (Bain Testa photo)

ROCHESTER - Like most weekends, renowned Rochester singer Mica Peterson has already had a busy couple of nights, performing at the Statey Bar & Grill in Portsmouth on Friday and the Springvale (Maine) Social Club Saturday.

But the lights will shine even brighter on her on Monday as this rising star looks to take it to the next level when she competes in the "Let's Hear It" talent show at the Infinity Music Hall in Hartford, Conn., which will feature 26 of the top vocalists from all over New England.

What's at stake? The winner walks away with a check for $10,000 and a gig as an opening act at an upcoming show at the Hartford performance venue.

"Nothing is guaranteed," Peterson said on Thursday. "I'm going into it with a mindset to do the best I can."

That same mindset served her well in January, when she took the top spot at a Seabrook Idol challenge, winning her a $1,000 cash prize and a professionally-made video.

Peterson said the competition will consist of three or four rounds, including a duet with another contestant, a dance song and one song that will be as she describes it, "out of my comfort zone."

She said she opted to allow talent show organizers to pick the songs she'll sing in the early rounds, but if she makes the finals, she'll be singing one near and dear to her heart, "Heaven for You," dedicated to her former bassist Chad Owen, who passed in 2013.

Peterson's soulful stylings are no stranger to the Greater Rochester area. She's been singing and playing keyboard around the Seacoast since 2004, first with her dad, vocalist and guitarist Pete Peterson with "Family Affair" and more recently as Mica's Groove Train, the Mica Peterson Duo and Mica Peterson Trio.

She said after gigs Friday and Saturday night, she'll be driving down to Hartford early today, find a hotel and rest up for Monday night's competition, which will be judged by Javier Colon, who won the inaugural season of NBC's "The Voice;" Billy Gilman, who is in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the youngest singer to ever reach #1 on the Billboard Top Country Album charts; and Tikku Sircar, a longtime songwriter, DJ and music instructor.

Peterson said she is happy just to have been chosen to be a part of the competition, adding it's one of her biggest breaks ever.

"I'm looking forward to the experience," she said. "I hope to come away with a lot of lifelong friends."

The shows starts at 6 p.m. General admission tickets are $30.

To buy a ticket and go support Mica click here.