A Mount local is celebrating her singing success after become a finalist in the solo/duo category of this year's Bay of Plenty Smokefreerockquest.

Mabel George from Mount Maunganui College placed second and Bri Hilton from Taupo-nui-a-Tia College took out the top spot in the regional final.

Bri spent a month creating her winning song, ‘Twenty Twenty', which is inspired by the concept of time and how fast paced life is.

'The song talks about the afterlife and how fast the days are moving towards it. It talks about my worries on how life is so short and moves way too quickly for my liking," says the 16-year-old.

"I was not expecting to win, it was just a fun project to work towards... it's a great opportunity for me and I'm so grateful to be considered for nationals."

Bri and Mabel get a prize package from the Rockshop and will go into the national selection pool for the event's live national final.

Smokefreerockquest also has a band category and the competing bands are currently in the process of submitting their video entries. Entries for the band category close on July 24, with the winners announced on August 7.

Smokefree Tangata Beats is run alongside Smokefreerockquest with a focus on the unique cultural identity of Aotearoa New Zealand and the South Pacific. Entries for this programme also close on July 24 with the winners announced on July 31.

Smokefreerockquest founder and director Pete Rainey says that at the regional level some entrants are already demonstrating the stand out factor that may see them achieve music career success.

'It's fascinating for us to look back at success stories like Kimbra, Marlon Williams, and Broods where we could see the star factor right back at the regional level.

'Each event gives a new cohort of bands the opportunity to take their obsession with music and develop the organisational and stagecraft skills that will help them become another Kiwi music success.”

The top regional bands and solo/duos submit new footage for selection as finalists to play off at the Smokefreerockquest national final in Auckland on September 12, with the Smokefree Tangata Beats national final held on September 11.

Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners' prize packages for bands and solo/duo winners that includes $22,000 in Rockshop vouchers, $16,000 NZ On Air recording, video and promo package, and a photo shoot and branding package from Imaginary Friends.

There is also the Musicianship Award, the Australasian Performing Right Association Lyric Award, Rockshop Electronic Performance Award, Best Song Award, and Smokefree Vocals Award.

For more information visit the website.