This first weekend of August 2014 was taken over by competing in the finals of Has Reading Got Talent?, a wonderfully diverse local talent competition judged by Reading FC Chairman Sir John Madejski, 2009 X-Factor finalist Danyl Johnson, Principal of Starlet Dance School Louise Woods, Tiffany King of TheatreTrain Reading and other local creative types.
I was so pleased to be a finalist, very excited to get through to the semi-finals on the Sunday and thrilled to make it to the top ten to perform in the grand final on Sunday afternoon. The competition was tough, and I did not make the top three, but I was astounded by a few of the other top ten finalists, not least of whom was winner Stephanie Hershaw, only 18 but with a very impressive and indeed beautiful operatic voice. A real stand out for me was another 18 year old: Cat Mitchell, to whom I would have given first prize on the spot for her rendition of Part of Their World from The Little Mermaid in the semi-finals. Both Stephanie and Cat are off to performing arts school this year and they most certainly deserve it. Congratulations ladies! I look forward to hearing more about your careers in the near future.