THE air was thick with excitement as the audience settled into their seats, and as the lights finally dimmed in Cadbury's Fry Club an expectant hush fell over the auditorium.

But while there was a palpable sense of anticipation among the friends and family members watching in the crowd, back-stage the nerves were tingling in each and every one of the eight singers and dancers who were about to compete in the first round of the 2008 Junior Search for a Star competition.

Seven superb acts then showed just how much talent the youngsters from across our region have.

And after an agonising wait, the three judges – Dave Miles, a music teacher at Clifton College, Louise Gambrell, an actress with the Fry's social club and Judy Davis, a voice coach at Bath University – made the difficult decision to put George Tanner, Abbie Britton, Louise Bull and Chantelle Revill through to the final.

Deb Dyer, organiser of the competition, said: "The competition got off to its usual high standard, and considering some of these youngsters are just eight years old they have done brilliantly.

"There was a lot of support for each of the performers, and everyone in the audience applauded them when they took their bows.

"They were all a bit nervous, but when they got on the stage they did brilliantly. The confidence these performers have is quite something.

"Some of the youngsters sang with no backing tracks but still managed to hit all the right notes. It is very easy to forget how old they are."

Judge Louise Gambrell said: "It was a tough competition, with lots of very good acts. Making the final decision on who was to go through turned out to be a very hard one.

"When you judge a competition like this you realise that there are lots of talented youngsters around. It is great to see them up on stage."

First up on stage was George Tanner. The 13-year-old, a pupil at Filton High School, lives in Little Stoke and studies theatre at the Bristol School of Performing Art, sang Daniel Powter's Bad Day and Shayne Ward's No Promises.

George, who wants a career in the West End, said: "It is really exciting to have got through to the final.

"The performance went really well. I was a bit nervous before, but when I got on stage I felt it went really well.

"I am really surprised to get through because I was the only boy in it. I didn't really know what to expect. I was excited to be the first person on because it meant I could kick the whole night off.

"I was feeling pretty confident about it and had been rehearsing all week.

"I have never been on that stage at the Fry Club before, but it felt really great and was a fabulous experience.

George, who has been singing and dancing since he was eight, was following in the footsteps of his older brother Tom, who competed in the senior version of Search for a Star this year.

He said: "Tom didn't quite make it through to the semi-final, so I was hoping to go one better and get through for him."

Bursting with excitement before the show was Chantelle Revill, who sang Where Is Love from the musical Oliver and Minnie Riperton's signature song Loving You. The 10-year-old, who was supported by mum Sarah, dad Morris, sisters Grace and Lana, her nan and granddad Lillian and Andy and her aunt Alisha, had been practising all week at home and during her lunch breaks at Horfield C of E School.

Chantelle said: "I did lots of hard work and wasn't too nervous.

"I am really happy that I got through, and was really excited when they called my name out.

"I was a little bit nervous, but when I started singing it was all OK. My family were there cheering for me and that really helped."

The youngster, who has performed in front of a packed Colston Hall with her school choir, has always loved singing.

She said: "I have always sung. My dad is also a singer, and he taught me. I want to be a professional singer. Celine Dion is my favourite, and I would love to be like her."

Another of the young stars to get through was 13-year-old Louise Bull, a pupil at Redland Green School, who lives in St Andrew's.

Last night she followed in the footsteps of her grandfather Ralph, who played the harmonica in a talent competition at the Somerdale social club in the 1960s.

Louise swapped her granddad's harmonica for a guitar, and sang Punk Rocker, by Sandi Thom, and Bubbly, by Colbie Caillat.

She said: "I am delighted to get through. When they were reading the names out of those who had made it I didn't know how to react.

"I was really happy when they called mine out and just wanted to get up on the stage.

"I was nervous doing the performance, but when I got into it I really started to enjoy myself.

"I was really excited about the competition, and had been practising for the last two weeks. I practised everywhere – playing the guitar at home, listening to the songs on my iPod on the way to school, and even going over the words in my head when I was in lessons.

"This is my first competition, and although I was nervous I was also really excited about it. I enjoy singing and playing the guitar, and want to keep up with it in the future."

Watching Louise was her brother William. He was so impressed by the competition that afterwards he put his name down for the next heat.

He said: "Louise was really good on stage. I saw her and thought 'I want to do that'."

The final youngster to make it through was Abbie Britton, who lives in Bridgeyate and goes to The Grange School in Warmley.

The 13-year-old, who sang Over The Rainbow and Alanis Morissette's Ironic, said: "I am just so happy. I really didn't think I was going to get through because there were so many different ranges of singers and everyone was so good.

"I was on second and it was really nerve-wracking. But it was good to get it over and done with so I could then enjoy it.

"I was really nervous at first, but half way though I just started to enjoy it."

Despite the heartache for those who did not quite make it through, all of the young performers enjoyed their moment in the spotlight.

Feeling the nerves in the green room before the heat was Candice Henry-O'Gorman, from Hartcliffe.

The 13-year-old, who sang Morgan Heritage's reggae song Tell Me How Come, said: "I get stage fright quite badly, but as soon as I get up there and start singing I am usually all right.

"It was a bit of a rush yesterday as I stayed over at my nan's on Saturday night and forgot to take my words to the rehearsal, so had to go back and get them.

"I had been practising all week and playing the music and changing the key of the songs a bit, so I felt quite confident about it."

The Hartcliffe Engineering Community College pupil was singing in her first Junior Search for a Star competition.

She said: "Looking at the people watching puts me off, but the lights blocked the crowds out so I couldn't really see the audience."

Eight-year-old Jessica Ince, from Knowle, had been practising her song Thank You For The Music all week.

The youngster, who goes to Cleve House School, said: "I was really looking forward to it. I was a bit nervous but was more excited. This was my first in a competition and I did lots of practise. I sang about five times a day every day and was feeling quite confident."

Among all the singers in the first heat were dancers Vicki Stone and Hayley Moulsdale. The 11-year-olds only knew that they were going to be in the competition on Monday, and devised their own piece and set it to music by Madcon, the Pussycat Dolls and Swan Lake.

The youngsters, who go to Castle School in Thornbury, were watched by Vicki's dad Nick, her brother Charlie and sister Rachael, and Hayley's mum Donna.

Vicki said: "We both like performing on stage but it was a bit nerve-wracking because there were lots of people watching. But we were really looking forward to being up there in front of everyone. We only knew we were going to do it this week, so didn't have much time to make up our piece."

Hayley said: "I was very excited and quite nervous. We got there first out of everyone, and the more people who came along the more excited I got."

● There are two remaining heats for the 2008 Junior Search for a Star competition, on October 12 and October 28. The final will be held at some point in November.

There is still plenty of time to enter. Contestants must be under the age of 14 on September 28.

For more information, call Deb Dyer on 0117 9376 500.

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