Warwickshire News Mine

Auditions are being held to find the next voices of the future as part of the Teen Idol training programme.

Teenagers aged between 13 and 19 who want to sing and perform will be able to show what they’ve got at auditions in front of professional musicians at Nuneaton Arts Centre and Leamington Town Hall on 4 February 2006. Doors will open at 10am until 1pm to accept candidates.  This year, TeenIdol is also looking for talented singers who can also play the guitar or piano.

Founder of the scheme, Dutch Van Spall of Big Help Management, said: “We are looking for people who can show ability and are prepared to work hard. They don’t have to be the best singer in the world. We will find their talents and help them improve.  Our audition process is a positive experience. We are a training and support scheme for all - not a ‘talent contest’ for one.”

More than 30 performers will be picked to receive 4 months free professional training from music industry experts. They will then be selected to appear in shows in May and June in Leamington Spa, Bedworth and Rugby. But there won’t be any cutting comments from a caustic jury for those who don’t stand out at audition. Even those who are not selected to go through to the next stage will receive advice on how to develop their singing talent.

Mike Roberts of Warwickshire County Council’s County Music Service, said: “There are lots of mistakes that young singers make. They try to adjust their voices to sound the same as the acts they hear on the radio without understanding the electronic effects that are put on and the work that is done in a studio, and they can risk straining their voice. We’ll be able to give everyone some simple pointers.

“For those who do come through there will be a structured training programme to follow. We are lucky to have these links with the music industry and people who have real experience of what it takes to work at the professional level.”

Teen Idol is run by Big Help Management supported by Warwickshire County Council, local businesses, and industry professionals who want to ‘put something back’.

Dutch added: “TeenIdol is a celebration and enjoyment of the musical talents of young people in Warwickshire.  Our link with CMS is crucial and enables us to provide an effective bridge between Education and Industry. There are very few opportunities for teenagers to gain free access to high quality training and almost no opportunities for them to perform at this level.”

“In 2005 Sheridan French performed at Glastonbury Festival, Marie Batchelder wrote the anthem for the International Childrens Games and headlined the official opening ceremony with a choir of 30 singers chosen from every year of the TeenIdol scheme. Sarah Robertson sang her own song LIVE on ITV and was the runner up in the UK Junior Eurovision TV Final.  Other graduates have formed bands, written their own songs, gained scholarships to Performing Arts Schools, supported chart acts at big festivals, taken lead parts in other shows, and started their own musical careers.  BUT … the important thing is – they have all gained confidence through new skills, improved their self-esteem through achievable goals, made new friends and completed a highly respected training scheme – great for their CV!.”

More information is available by visiting http://www.teenidol.biz

Link to WCC