8:00pm Friday 26th June 2009
TWO talented young singers are hoping to win over the crowds in their quest for stardom tomorrow.
Oliver Fox, 13, and Amy Colyer, 14, are just two of the 18 acts who have been chosen to perform in the first Southend Festival Stars, a free talent contest.
As part of Southend Festival Seven, the show will see youngsters aged between 11 and 25 take to the stage of the Victoria centre, in the High Street, to showcase their skills.
Street dancers, percussionists, guitarists and rock bands are just some of the diverse acts hoping to walk away with the prize of a professional studio session, and £500 of HMV vouchers.
“Any chance of entertaining people is a straight yes for me,” says Oliver, of Creekview Road, South Woodham Ferrers, who’ll be singing a song from the film Hercules.
“I’d like to think I was born to entertain.
“I’m hoping this competition will open doors for me. I really want to get my name out there.”
Amy Colyer, of High Street, Shoebury, will be performing For Good, from the musical Wicked, at the contest organised by South East Essex College.
She says: “I’m so excited about performing as I love being on stage.
“I love singing and I want to do anything to show that to people.
“It would be a dream come true to perform in West End musicals when I’m older.”
Although the festival is in its seventh year, this is the first time a talent contest has been part of it.
Marco Scarola, one of the organisers from the college, explains why they are running Festival Stars.
“The college is all about nurturing young talent and this is a way we can put something on for people in the college, but people from outside as well,” he says.
“There are all sorts of acts and that is really what the festival, and Southend, is all about.”
Three judges, from local businesses, will decide the fate of the contestants at the show, which runs from noon to 2.30pm.
For more information visit www.southendfestival.com
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