Singing sensations at Idol showdown

Hundreds of people packed the Palm Beach Plaza today to hear the Bay of Plenty’s top young talent battle it out to become the next Idol winner.

As seventeen contestants aged five to 16-years-old took to the stage in the finals of Palm Beach Idol at the shopping centre in Papamoa the crowd sung along and voted for their favourite performance.

Ila Hogg, 10, sings in the finals of Palm Beach Idol. Photos: Daniel Hines

Palm Beach Plaza marketing manager Warwick Clark says the calibre of talent was “incredible” with the margin between the winners coming down to three to four points.

“It was the last stage of the competition today and it was really difficult to choose.”

The contestants competed in three separate age groups; five to seven years, eight to 10 years and 11 to 16 years and the general group’s category.

Contestant Georgia Campbell is confident in her performance today singing Set Fire to the Rain by British singer Adele.

“I just love singing it is one of my favourite hobbies.”

The 10-year-old Tahatai Coast School pupil sings in the school choir and watches American Idol and The Voice for pointers.

“I think you need to have a really good voice and performance to make it.”

Proving Adele was the artist of choice, 10-year-old Ila Hogg also choose to sing the Adele number one Rolling in the Deep.

“It’s quite hard, but I have been practising. Singing is one of the things I really enjoy.”

With voting made up of 50 per cent judges and 50 per cent audience Warwick says it came down to the wire but the overall title went to 11-year-old Amelia Axton.

Amelia takes home $250 worth of Palm Beach Plaza vouchers, as well as Silver Surfer vouchers and a dinner voucher at Great Spice India.

Israel Hapi, 10, was named winner of the eight to 10-year-old age group and Rhiannon Dappenden, 7, was the winner of the five to seven-year-olds.

Winner of the groups category went to Shania Berry and Taylor Faulkner who Warwick says did a stunning performance of Big Girls Don’t Cry.

 Warwick says the competition would not have been possible without support of Prime Productions, Moa Performing Arts and backing from the local Bay of Plenty schools.

“The plaza likes to get behind the community and build the strength of the local community and this is what this competition was about.”

Georgia Campbell, 10, sings in the finals of Palm Beach Idol.