As the judges sat deliberating over who was going to be crowned winner of this year's Junior Search for a Star competition the ripple of expectation running through the audience was almost audible.

Whispers and murmurs came from every table in the packed venue as nervous youngsters and their friends and family wondered whether they had done enough to win one of the prizes.

Finally, after what seemed like hours of deliberation, the judges were ready – a decision had been made. Weeks of rehearsals and endless hours of practice had boiled down to this.

Then, with a crackle of the microphone it was announced that 12-year-old Jessie Carter had been crowned this year's winner.

As the applause grew to a crescendo, the delighted youngster ran up the steps to pick up the Evening Post/Fry Club trophy and a cheque for £150 for her efforts.

Jessie dazzled the judges as she sang I Don't Know How To Love Him, from Jesus Christ Superstar and Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, from Phantom Of The Opera.

And her performance brought huge applause from the 220 people who had packed the hall to cheer on the performers.

Afterwards, the excited youngster said that she was thrilled to win the prestigious title.

She said: "I am amazed. I really didn't think I was going to win because everyone was so good.

"I was really nervous during it, and there were lots of other good singers who didn't get placed among the winners.

"It means a lot me to win it. I had been looking forward to it for so long, and it means a lot to my family as well.

"My mum and grandad have helped me all the way and supported me through all my practising, so it means a lot to them.

"When I won they all cheered really loudly, which was nice. Now we are going to go home and celebrate."

Just pipped to the title was Rosie Southern. The judges said they were "blown away" with how she sang from the heart, and that she was a worthy winner of the £100 second prize.

In third place was Kaisha Baldie, who won £75, and Stacey Hunt picked up a cheque for £50 for finishing fourth.

But with such a brilliant array of talent on display, all 15 finalists were winners.

Judging the competition was Evening Post deputy editor Rob Stokes, amateur drama musical director Kerrie Duce, and Nigel Ipinson-Fleming, a Bristol-based songwriter and music producer and one-time keyboard player and session musician with indie band The Stone Roses.

As he presented the awards, Mr Stokes, 48, said: "What a fabulous evening we have had – 15 acts, 17 performers and they were all brilliant. It takes such a lot of nerve to step up and perform, and they all did it so well.

"This competition is all about finding a star, but I think tonight we have found a sky full of stars."

And the judges decided that Chantelle Revill deserved a special award of a day in a recording studio after she kept on singing after forgetting her words and stopping in the middle of a song.

Mr Ipinson-Fleming said: "We thought it would be appropriate to give a special mention to a young lady who encapsulated what life is all about this evening, Chantelle.

"Life is about facing challenges, and it is appropriate that Chantelle is rewarded for the fact that she faced the challenge in the middle of her piece and came through it."

Each of the 15 performers did themselves proud on the night, and the audience cheered and applauded their efforts.

First on was nine-year-old Kaisha, from Little Stoke.

The Summerhill Junior School pupil sang Rihanna's Take A Bow and Lean On Me, by Bill Withers.

She said: "It went well. I was so nervous before I got on, but when I went up I wasn't nervous because I couldn't really see anyone because it was dark.

"But I could see my parents and family waving their arms in the air, which made me much less nervous.

"I was definitely pleased with the way it went, though."

Next up was 13-year-old George Tanner who performed Daniel Powter's Bad Day and Could It Be Magic, by Take That.

The Filton High School student has not been in Junior Search for a Star before, but was pleased with his performance.

He said: "I wasn't too nervous, and performed to the best of my ability. I practised both songs for the last month.

"I concentrated really hard and managed to get all the words right, and it was nice because I had my mum, dad, grandparents and all my aunts and uncles supporting me."

In a glamorous black dress, Christie Bryant, from Downend, sang Connie Francis' Stupid Cupid and My Heart Will Go On, from the film Titanic.

She said: "It went well, but I was nervous because there were so many people there.

"I could see someone waving at the back, which put me off a bit and made me notice the audience, but I remembered all the words and I am happy with my performance."

Winner Red Maids' School pupil Jessie brought the house down with her performances.

Jessie, from Redland, wore a cloak as part of her costume, and said: "I felt all right, even though I was nervous at the start.

"They were the same songs from the heat, and I have been rehearsing all week as I have never sung the song from Phantom before.

"I couldn't really see anyone in the audience; they all became a blur as I was concentrating so much."

Last in the first group was runner-up Rosie, from Backwell, who was singing in her first competition.

The 13-year-old sang Jennifer Hudson's And I'm Telling You, from Dreamgirls, and Mercy, by Duffy.

She said: "I really like Mercy and wanted to see how powerful my voice could go with the other song.

"I think it went OK – I like singing, but was so nervous when I went on stage. But when I got into the songs the nerves went and I was all right. It was nice to have lots of my family and school friends here."

After a short break, Bailey Kerley, her blonde hair in ringlets and wearing a steel-grey dress, took to the stage.

The 11-year-old, who goes to Broadlands Secondary School in Keynsham, sang Whitney Houston's Where Do Broken Hearts Go and Alisha Keyes' No One.

She said: "I think it went well. I was really nervous because I had seen some of the others who were on before me, and I though they were really good.

"But I was quite pleased with my performance."

Working the stage as well as any of the singers were AOA Connection, a three-girl street dance troupe.

The girls – Alisha Stephenson, 13, her sister Osheanna, nine, and Amantia Mehmeti, 13 – wore matching colourful T-shirts for their hip-hop and R'n'B-inspired piece, which they devised themselves.

Afterwards, they said: "It was quite good, and we put a lot of energy and effort into it.

"Osheanna was really nervous about her cartwheel and also had to do the splits, but it all went well."

A finalist from the first heat, Louise Bull, who goes to Redland Green School, sang Final Goodbye, by Rihanna with her guitar, and sang an a capella version of Ralph McTell's Streets of London.

The 13-year-old, who was supported by her family and school friends Bea and Fionnuala, wore a flowery 1960s dress for her performance.

She said: "I have been rehearsing for ages, even on the way home from school in the car.

"I was really nervous before, but when I was warming up I was OK. It was nice to have my family and friends there, and it made me laugh when I heard them cheering afterwards."

Dressed in a white dress and black sandals, eight-year-old Stacey Hunt earned a huge cheer for her performances of Tallulah, from Bugsy Malone, and Honey Honey, from Mamma Mia!

She said: "It was OK. My hands were shaking when I went on and everybody was staring at me, but the songs went all right.

"But I didn't really feel very confident about it – it was ok, but it wasn't 10 out of 10."

Last to go in the second group was Georgie Taylor, who was resplendent in her turquoise and black outfit and black trilby hat.

The 12-year-old Hanham High School pupil sang the classic Somewhere Over The Rainbow, and Valerie, by Amy Winehouse.

She said: "I really like Somewhere Over The Rainbow, and the song Valerie basically picked me, rather than me choosing it.

"I don't think anything went wrong. I was shaking a bit, but felt pretty confident."

Starting off the third group was 13-year-old Lynsay Cooper, who was dressed in a white trouser suit.

The youngster, from Bedchester in Dorset, sang Maria McKee's Show Me Heaven and Tina Turner's Simply The Best, which the audience clapped along to.

After her performance she said: "The songs went fine and I was pleased with them, but there were a lot of good singers tonight, and I was nervous after hearing them.

"I picked the two songs because they are different and show off my voice in different ways."

Up next was Ella Arnold, dressed in an orange dress and a black hat.

The 11-year-old Sir Bernard Lovell school pupil sang Take A Bow, by Rihanna, and Mercy, by Duffy.

She said: "I did better than I thought I was going to, and I put more effort into it because it was the final. It was really fun.

"I also did it for my dad – he really believes in me, and has supported me lots and would take me around the world singing."

Third in the final group was Abbie Britton, aged 13.

The Grange School pupil sang Alanis Morissette's Ironic, and Fields Of Gold, by Eva Cassidy.

She said: "Eva Cassidy is my favourite singer and Alanis Morrisette is dynamic and I love that song.

"I wasn't so confident in the first song, but it grew in the second, and I felt comfortable up there and really enjoyed it."

Up next was little Chantelle, who wore a silver dress with silver and gold sparkles which she had bought for the competition.

The 10-year-old earned huge applause and a standing ovation from the judges for her versions of Where Is Love, from Oliver!, and Loving You by Minnie Ripperton.

She said: "They went well and I'm pleased with what I did. I stopped in the middle of Where Is Love to take a big breath, but carried on afterwards.

"I thought I was going to do really badly after that but I didn't."

The last act of the night, was the second boy in the final, Oliver Harper.

The 12-year-old Chew Valley School pupil, sang Consider Yourself from Oliver!, and Electricity from Billy Elliot.

He said: "Consider Yourself is lively, and I like to be able to smile in a song and not be restricted. Electricity shows off my voice."

As the lights went down at the Fry's Club stage for another year, organiser Deb Dyer was full of praise for the gutsy youngsters.

She said: "The standard was exceptionally high with very little to choose between each act.

"But in the end the judges decided that Jessie just pipped it.

"Her voice was outstanding and when she sang it sent shivers down my spine. She certainly has a career in singing if she wants it.

"But all the finalists were absolutely brilliant, and it goes to show we have some very talented youngsters in the area."