TWO Wirral singing sensations have made it through to the regional final of one of the UK’s largest singing competitions.
Tabitha Jade Hayles, from Caldy, and Jasmine Machell, from Wallasey, impressed judges at the Liverpool auditions of TeenStar this month and are now looking forward to the next round – which takes them one step closer to a £5,000 cash prize and an extensive publicity package.
Nine-year-old Jasmine - who has been singing since she was just 18-months-old – wowed the judges with her rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want to Have Fun, while 13-year-old Tabitha made a lasting impression with her cover of One Republic’s popular Counting Stars – complete with acoustic guitar.
Tabitha – who made her professional stage debut in Liverpool Empire Theatre’s production of South Pacific at the age of just 11 – has a love of acting and dancing, having attended various dance schools across Wirral since she was four-years-old.
Thirteen-year-old Tabitha Hayles loves nothing more than singing and playing her acoustic guitar.
The Upton Girls Grammar School pupil took up the vocal art 18 months ago and has since started writing her own material, something she plans to share with the judges at the regional final on March 9.
She will be joined by proud parents, Michael and Julie, who say Tabitha “comes to light” on stage.
“We are both extremely proud of Tabitha,” said dad Michael.
“And of our other two daughters Eliza and Harriet. All are very talented in their own right and are capable of doing in life whatever they wish to pursue.”
Tabitha’s youngster sister Eliza performed alongside her in South Pacific in 2012 when the pair landed two of the show’s three child parts.
Wallasey youngster Jasmine Machell will also compete in the regional final on March 9, when she plans to perform the Cyndi Lauper classic once again.
Nine-year-old Jasmine Machell hopes to follow in the footsteps of her dad.
The St Alban’s Catholic Primary School pupil – who attends singing lessons with Southport-based Natasha Brookes – also plans to enter Britain’s Got Talent later this year, following in the footsteps of her dad, Michael, who many will remember from the talent show back in 2008.
“Jasmine has a fantastic voice,” said Michael
“Somebody told me that in years to come, she’s going to be bigger than Celine Dion and they were right – we have a star in our midst.”
Michael added: “She is really doing well and she’s only nine-years-old.”
TeenStar is the UK’s first and only singing competition exclusively for teenagers and has discovered artists including Birdy, Lucy Spraggan and last year’s X-Factor finalist, Luke Friend.
The regional final of TeenStar takes place at Liverpool’s Linear Hotel on Sunday, March 9.
For more information, visit teenstarcompetition.co.uk
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