TV hopefuls in fine Voice for audition

Just a few weeks on from Stevie McCrorie being named winner of BBC One’s The Voice 2015, amateur singers visited Blackpool Music Academy to audition for next year’s show.

Producers from the reality programme, which features judges including Tom Jones, Ricky Wilson, Will.i.am and Rita Ora, were in town to meet the best the Fylde coast had to offer.

Among the first to apply at the Waterloo Road-based venue was choir singer Shauna Taylor.

The 44-year-old, of Pinewood Avenue, Bispham, is part of the Capricorn Singers, based in Cleveleys, which have performed popular music and songs from the shows across the Fylde coast since 1984.

She said: “I used to enter a few talent contests and joined the choir last year.

“I just thought I would go down and see the people from The Voice and find out more information.

“I really enjoy it, that is the main thing.

“Hopefully they have liked what they heard.”

Another hopeful, Dion Mitchinson, 24, of Burns Street, Fleetwood, added: “I believe I have a talent and I can sing.

“I’ve always been one for singing since I was young. I used to sing at parties and love karaoke.

“Fingers crossed for the rest of the competition.”

Applicants met with producers from the programme who spoke to them about the selection process, listened to them sing and offered advice ahead of larger 
auditions taking place throughout the UK later this year.

Sarah Reed, from Wall To Wall Productions, which helps to make the show, said: “We have open auditions starting in June and July.

“Today is informing people about the show and getting the best talent we can.”

The producers also gave their backing to The Gazette’s Give Us A Tune campaign, as we ask Fylde folk to donate 50 instruments and £20,000 to subsidise lessons at the 
academy.

Sarah said: “It is definitely a worthy cause. Music is a great hobby and brings people together. This sounds like a great way to start.”

nAnyone interested in auditioning for The Voice can email [email protected]