Birthdate: July 12, 1988
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta
Audition City: Calgary, Alberta
Place of Birth: Calgary, Alberta
Placing on Canadian Idol: Winner Season 3 (2005)
Post Idol Hi-Lights:
- Her first single Alive remained on the Canadian Hot 100 radio airplay chart for nine months and the cd single debuted at #1 on the single sales chart where it remained for seven straight weeks. It has since been certified 4x Platinum.
- Melissa's self titled album was released to stores on November 22, 2005. In March 2006 it was certified gold.
- 43 stop cross Canada concert tour with runner-up Rex Goudie.
- Nominated for 2006 Juno Award in the Best New Artist category. Awards show airs on April 1, 2007.
History:
During her senior year at Lester B Pearson High School her dad (Tim O'Neil) suggested she try out for Canadian Idol which was conducting auditions in town. The two headed to the auditions straight from basketball practice and Melissa advanced to the next round. According to her mother (Alison Yeung) Melissa started singing at a family function a couple years prior to her audition. In the ensuing years her musical training consisted of high school music classes with appearances in two school stage productions.
Current Status:
Appearing in the Toronto Stage Production of Dirty Dancing at the Royal Alexandra Theatre (through August 2008).
