Georgie shines brightest as youngsters star at Bristol Evening Post competition
Teenage singer Georgie Taylor wowed the judges with her performance at a sold-out Fry Club last night.
A total of 15 singing and dancing acts performed in the glittering finale of the talent competition.
The judging panel, consisting of Evening Post deputy editor Rob Stokes, singer Sam Nolan and singing teacher Jamie Spencer, had a tough task deciding on the annual competition's winners.
Now in its 16th year, Junior Search for a Star is one of the most prestigious talent contests in the area.
Almost 60 youngsters took part in this year's competition, with 39 acts performing in three heats.
The 13-year-old winning act from Kingswood, opened her act with her a capella interpretation of Danny Boy performed in virtual darkness.
She then cast aside the dark cloak she had worn to reveal a colourful sequined dress and sang Christina Aguilera's Reflection.
The singer received a cheque for £150 and the Junior Search for a Star trophy.
She said: "I was really gob-smacked when they said my name.
"I didn't think I would get first place because there were a lot of people were really good."
Singer Kristen White, 13, was named in second place and won a £100 cheque.
The Bradley Stoke teenager ended proceedings with her performance of On My Own from Les Miserables before changing costume for her rendition of Whistle Down the Wind from the musical of the same name.
She said: "It was absolutely gob-smacking. Everybody was so good. It must have been a really hard decision for the judges.
"I am really happy. It was really fun."
Young singer Joe Collins walked away with a £75 cheque after being named in third place.
The 12-year-old, of Whitchurch, showcased his strong voice with Enrique Iglesias' Hero before performing R Kelly's I Believe I Can Fly without any backing music.
He said: "It feels really good. I was very nervous beforehand but when I got up there it was not so bad."
Dance group D Street were awarded fourth place and £50 for their street dance routine.
Dancers Chantelle O'Driscoll, 13, from Southmead; Courtney Mallinson, 12, from Lawrence Weston; Kelcee Perks, 11, from Southmead; Raheem Malik, 12, from Horfield; Klaudia Celerikova, 12, from Southmead; Sammy Munroe, 11, from Southmead; Taylor Muculey, 12, from Southmead; Sherish Griffiths, 12, from Southmead; Kaelym Trivett, 11, from Horfield, and Ashleigh Thomas, 11, from Southmead performed to a music medley that included Dizzee Rascal's Flex and Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal, dressed in white shirts, gloves and caps with black waistcoats.
Sammy Munroe said: "When we saw all the singers we didn't think we would have a chance so when they said our names it was a shock."
Courtney Mallinson said: "This is only our fourth proper competition so it's great to have won something."
The show was opened by nine-year-old singer and dancer Molly Arnold, of Barrs Court.
The youngster, decked out in black with a huge pink tie and matching hat started with a hip-hop routine complete with body-popping. She then returned to the stage after a quick costume change to perform her rendition of Mariah Carey's Hero.
The youngest competitor, eight-year-old Felix Percival, of Brislington, performed a dance to Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal.
In his sharp suit and trilby hat, he performed many of the late star's trademark moves, including the moonwalk.
The first section ended with a performance from The Fringe – a metal covers band, made up of lead guitarist Jack Barrett, drummer Joe Probert, singer Harry Hoddinott and bass player John Worgan, all 12 and from Oldland Common.
Their performance started with their loud and lively version of McFly's Five Colours In Her Hair. They ended their set with System of a Down's Chop Suey.
Helen James, 13, of Downend took to the stage in a grey satin dress to perform a powerful rendition of I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables. She then sang the Eva Cassidy version of Over the Rainbow.
Singer Florence Wadley, 12, of Tickenham, continued the theme of songs from the shows, with Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again from Phantom of the Opera. Wearing a long white dress the accomplished performer completed her act with I Could Have Danced All Night from My Fair Lady.
The third quarter opened with singer and guitarist Georgie Henderson, 13, of Clevedon.
The teenager performed James Morrison's The Pieces Don't Fit Anymore and I'm Yours by Jason Mraz.
Ella Arnold, 12, a singer from Barrs Court, whose younger sister opened the evening, performed Taylor Swift's Love Story and Concrete Angel by Martina McBride.
Patricia-Alexia Ekall, 13, of Horfield performed a contemporary African dance routine to Massive Attack's You Are My Angel.
Soheila Clifford, 11, of Cheltenham, sang Defying Gravity from the musical Wicked in a witch's costume before a speedy change into a white sequin dress to dance and sing to a Charlotte Church number.
Harriet Campbell, 13, of Keynsham, took to the stage in a purple outfit with her guitar to sing Oasis' Wonderwall. She completed her act with Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer.
Harley Marsh, 12, of Kingswood showed off his Michael Jackson moves with a dance routine. In a black sequinned jacket, shirt, tie, hat and the singer's trademark one glove, the youngster made the stage his own.
Judge Sam Nolan said: "It was a very, very difficult decision for all three of us to judge this evening.
"Each and every person in the show was fantastic."
Rob Stokes said: "It is so easy to forget how young some of these performers were. They did brilliantly well. We had an entire heaven of stars to choose from and it was extremely difficult."
Jamie Spence said: "I think a lot of older performers could learn from these youngsters."
The competition's organiser, Deb Dyer, said: "We have had a fantastic evening.
"There were 15 acts of just pure quality, no nerves and smiling faces.
Whatever their performances were they came off to the best of their ability."
Unfortunately, 10-year-old St George singer Kaisha Baldie, who booked her place in the second heat had to pull out of the final because she was too unwell to perform.
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