SENSATIONAL young singers proved they had the Express factor when they appeared at the Voice of 2009 competition final.
The last leg of the competition – organised by the Yorkshire Weekly Newspaper Group with Xscape – saw 10 young artists and four bands take to the stage at the packed Glass Houghton leisure centre on Monday.
In the competition's 'best-ever' solo category stunning performers including Alverthorpe singers Connagh Smith, 15, and Annabel Baran, 14, entertained the cheering crowds.
Click here to listen to the winners
Each of the entrants, who came from across the region and sang everything from musical classics to chart-toppers and their own songs, were voted into the final by Express readers. Competition was tough but Sheffield songstress Kortni Turner claimed the coveted winner's title – and £1,000 prize – after wowing the three judges with her own song Cry No More.
Kortni,18, said: "I'm
so excited, I can't believe I won.
"I really didn't expect it because everyone was really good – I'm
not sure what I'm going to do with the money yet.
"At the moment I'm recording a few tracks, writing a few songs to get
a demo together and trying to get myself noticed.
"The Voice Of competition
was really amazing, it was such a great experience to perform in front of
all the people who came."
Energetic dances from Castleford Tigers' cheerleaders the Claws opened Monday's
event before compere Darren Payne introduced last year's winner, Chelsea Radford,
from Hemsworth, who performed I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston.
Wakefield Wildcats' dance troupe the Wildcat Dolls also kept the audience entertained with a rousing show while judges deliberated the result.
Judge Liz Allen, representing the Yorkshire Weekly Newspaper Group, said: "The competition goes from strength to strength and this year's entrants were probably the best-ever.
"Given that the majority
this year were quite young the standard was excellent, and I'm hoping that
entering the competition has given them the encouragement to keep going and
aim high."
In the battle of the bands showdown Castleford act Take A Bow rocked the Loft
bar – which was packed with revellers – and claimed the £1,000
prize.
Wakefield outfits the Ran-Tan Waltz and the Theory, as well as Castleford's the Subs, also took part in the evening contest.
Click here for all the finalists