Teenage singer makes final in rising star contest

A MELKSHAM Oak student and The Pilot open mic regular has made it to the regional finals of the national TeenStar singing competition.

Heather Kerr, 15, performed her own composition ‘Sticks and Stones’ to win her place at the final next month.

Originally part of a duo with her guitarist friend Megan, Heather now performs solo, and has been singing at The Pilot open mic nights in Bowerhill since last year.

Organiser Mel Austin said, “I was disappointed when the duo split up because I thought they showed great potential, but I have to say Heather has really blossomed as a solo performer and a songwriter since the break.”

Heather will now perform in the final at the Anson Rooms in Bristol in April, when she plans to sing another original song.

The TeenStar competition has supported the careers of many successful young musicians including­ Birdy, Lucy Spraggon and Luke Friend.  TeenStar saw over 8,000 acts audition last year in its search for the UK’s best singers, singer-songwriters and rappers aged 19 or under. Heather Kerr will be the third finalist from The Pilot’s open mic stage, following in the footsteps of Courtney Buchanan in 2013, and Izzy Felstead last year.

Mel runs the Pilot Music Nights every third Wednesday of the month in order to give young teens the chance to perform in public, try out their own material and practise for such contests.

Although the Open Mic slots are open to all ages, it is younger teens who would not normally have a chance to perform in public who are the target for support. The evenings intend not just to give them a chance  to perform, but also encouragement to enter competitions, perform on radio and at larger public events, as well as write, record and send original material to publishing and record companies.

All the support is given for free with just a small cost for recording and duplication of CDs. In the past two years Courtney and Izzy have both released debut albums and Courtney is currently working on her second, whilst Izzy is progressing in a new national songwriting competition with her original composition, ‘Spaces’.

For more information on the gigs and the support available, contact Mel Austin at Melodious Music – 01225 705866, or melaustin100@gmail.com.