For Immediate Release

Tewkesbury’s Got Talent

The Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury is inviting all young people from across the borough to enter an X Factor style singing talent competition, Tewkesbury’s Got Talent. Taking place  over the summer holidays, the competition is run is connection with the Youth Music initiative Voice It, which offers young people the opportunity to develop their voice and singing skills through professional training. 

Young people age 11 – 25 can head to one of two venues across Tewkesbury to take part in pre-audition taster sessions this Thursday 11 August. Lead by professional musicians  Jonnny Amos and Malaki Patterson, the Taster Sessions take place in the Alex Cunningham Building on Gould Park, Oak Drive in Northway between 10am and 12 noon, and then again in the afternoon between 2pm and 4pm at Tewkesbury Youth Centre, on Link Road, Priors Park. 

“The Taster Sessions enable young people to get together and meet other like minded budding singers, to demonstrate their existing skills and receive guidance from professional musicians on how to develop their voices, in advance of the following week’s auditions.” Says Maggie Tildesley, Take Part Director at The Roses. 

At the taster sessions, young people will be able to try their hand at pop, rock and rap in an encouraging, all inclusive environment, where the excitement of the approaching auditions is sure to resonate through the participants. 

Main X Factor style auditions take place on Thursday 25 August between 10am and 1pm at the Alex Cunningham Building, Northway and again at Tewkesbury Youth Centre between 2pm and 5pm. Open to everyone, including those who were not able to make the taster sessions the previous week, young people aged 11-25 will have the chance to audition to a panel of professional musicians, in the hope that they may successfully make it through to the next round. Female soloists, male soloists and group artists are required to prepare and perform one song, accompanied by either a backing track or their own live accompaniment,  for their audition which will last for a maximum of five minutes.  Friends and family are encouraged to attend to support the applicants. 

“X Factor is such a hit with almost everyone, and to have X Factor style auditions in Tewkesbury gives young people the chance to show the county what they’ve got. We are expecting a massive turnout of hopeful young people with amazing talent, who, as of yet, haven’t been discovered,” Continues Maggie. 

Successful auditionees from the auditions on Thursday 25 August will be asked to attend the Tewkesbury’s Got Talent final which takes place on The Roses stage on Saturday 4 September at 6pm. This will be the last chance for the hopefuls to impress the judges in front of their family and friends. During the afternoon prior to the Final, candidates will receive professional training from musicians and guidance about making their performance the best possible. 

To take part in either the free Taster Sessions or the auditions, applicants can book their place by contacting Debora Hewlett on assistant@rosestheatre.org or just turn up on the day. 

The Tewkesbury’s Got Talent auditions and Taster Sessions are part of the Voice It! initiative, which gives young people the chance to take part in a series of professionally led music sessions from the autumn, where they  can develop a range of voice and singing skills in advance of the Tewkesbury Youth Music Festival, which takes place in August 2012. 

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Notes to Editors

Campaign initiative; Follow local auditionees through the Taster Sessions and auditions, and track the winners progress through the autumn as they develop their skills in the Voice It Sessions. Feature their nerves and celebrations as they prepare to audition, follow them throughout the year as they get ready to take part in the Tewkesbury Youth Music Festival in August 2012. 

For more information, interviews and images please contact Beckie Smith, Marketing and Press Manager at The Roses on 01684 853070 or marketing@rosestheatre.org