And The Winner Of The Wandsworth Young Performer 2010 Is.................

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Fifteen-year-old singer Elizabeth Boampong!

The Battersea Park school student has won a studio photo shoot and a marketing consultation with the marketing manager for special projects at the Barbican Centre.

She has also been invited to take part in a song-writing session with Jon Vears, who has worked with Rihanna, Eminen, P Diddy, Dr Dre and Christina Aguilere.

The civic suite was packed out for the finals of the competition, which was hosted by former Wandsworth resident and MTV star Richard Blackwood. .

Second place went to singer Diane Louise Peace, 15, and third prize was scooped by guitarist Easel Kandola-McNicholas. They received a PR consultation and radio interview on BANG FM and a studio recording session and online promotions consultation with Bigga Fish.

Mayor of Wandsworth     Cllr Piers McCausland pictured with Elizabeth was on hand to present the awards to the competition winners.  The performers were all aged between 14 and 19 and had been through a series of nerve-racking auditions followed by performance development workshops with industry professionals. 

Many of the acts were supported with a live backing band, the Vibe-a-deliks and all of them joined forces at the end for an uplifting group performance of Let the Sun Shine.

This year local young people helped plan, manage and promote the competition. Those taking part picked up valuable work experience as supporting production managers, stage managers, sound and lighting technicians and stage runners.

A sixth form student from Chestnut Grove School designed the event programme while a dedicated 'street team' helped market and promote the grand final.

Executive member for environment and culture Cllr Sarah McDermott said:
"This competition always shows what an astonishing array of creative talent the young people Wandsworth have – and this year was no exception. Congratulations to all the performers and all the young people working behind the scenes for putting on an incredible show.

She continued:
“The Young Performer competition is just one example of how Wandsworth is becoming a seedbed for culture. The borough already has a thriving arts and culture scene, and our young people are constantly injecting fresh new talent into it.”

The Young Performer 2010 competition was run by the council's art team and youth service in partnership with Bigga Fish, The Halfmoon Putney, Royal Academy of Dance and Battersea Arts Centre (BAC). 

December 7, 2010