Young musicians show star quality

Apr 11 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

THE FIRST would-be music stars in an X-Factor style talent show were celebrating last night after reaching the final.

The opening semi final of the ‘Music Means Life’ event, to raise money for a teenage cancer unit at The Royal Victoria Infirmary, took place at Rainton Meadows Arena, Rainton, Durham.

The unit will provide a much- needed space for teenage cancer sufferers. But it needs another £1.9m before it can be completed.

Twelve acts took to the stage last night in front of a panel of celebrity judges who picked five to go through to the grand final in two weeks’ time.

Amongst the winning acts was Georgina Overton, 15, of Dairy Court, Acklington, Northumberland.

The Gosforth High school pupil said: “I just love singing and it was for such a great cause that I just signed up to play. I was surprised to get this far and it’s so great that I’ve got to the final.

“I would love to be a professional singer.”

The other acts to get to the final were Amy Tuddenham and Aaron Tate, 16, from Sunderland; Breaking Thru, a band of five 16 and 17 year olds from Stanley, County Durham; Jane Corney, 15, from Houghton-le-Spring and Karen Harding, 16 from Consett, County Durham.

The star-studded judging panel included Big Brother winner Anthony Hutton, Newcastle Falcons player Tom May and Big Brother runner-up Liam McGough.

Anthony Hutton said: “We weren’t too harsh on them, I can’t sing myself so I think all the contestants were really brave to be doing this. All the acts were great, but the winners just had that something extra.”

Also on the judging panel were two cancer sufferers who are now in remission.

Michael Balfour, 16, of Mitford Road, South Shields, and Melissa Cavanagh, 17, of Cresswell Terrace, Ashbrooke, Sunderland, both contracted the disease in their early teens.

Melissa studies musical theatre at Newcastle College and performed a song last night. She said: “When I was diagnosed with cancer I was 13 and I was put into a ward with children, it just makes it so much harder. That is why this event is so close to my heart. This brilliant facility will make such a difference to the lives of teenage cancer sufferers.”

Presenting the show were Metro Radio DJ Mark Thorburn and Chloe Madeley, 20, daughter of television presenters Richard and Judy.

She said: “This is great for me because I’m really musically challenged.

“I’m in awe of them. They are so young and yet they have voices like Christina Aguilera.

“Most of them are my age, and it’s great that we can have a laugh together.

“They are all here just to have fun, and all they want to do is perform.

“I’ve never been able to do what they do. I’ve only been in front of the camera, and my parents have given me good advice and they put the foot in the door, but it’s always up to me to prove I can do it.”

Page 2: A dozen acts battle to take centre stage at second semi-final