VGT 2016

Once again we are extremely grateful to all the local traders who placed adverts in the programme and to brewstersbrewery who donated the cask beers for the Final. Brewster's have supported our events for many years and their donation ensures that the audience enjoy some fine beer and greatly enhances the money we raise for our chosen charities.

The judges had some tough decisions to make as the Grand Finale of The Vale’s Got talent came to its conclusion. Roy Taylor (aka Vince Eager) said that he had been involved with judging at the Vale of Belvoir Rotary Club’s talent show for the last seven years and he felt that tonight’s final was probably the best ever. There’s “so much talent around and we’ll struggle to make our decision” was a comment from another judge as the four-strong panel (Roy Taylor, Jane Murray, Katy Woolley and John Holmes) left to debate the night’s performances. Whilst they made their decision the full house was entertained by Holly Fallon, one of last year’s winning finalists. The prizes were presented by Will Pressley, Spire Health Care, who are the main sponsor for this year’s event. The Rotary Club were most appreciative of the support from Spire Healthcare who are opening their new private hospital early in 2017.  Four acts, Felicity Turner (singer), Lizzy Watts (singer and ukulele player), One Giant Causway (5-strong group), Jan Cummings (poet) were Highly Commended and presented with cheques for £50.00 leaving the top three positions to Neon Glee (close harmony group from Brooksby College) Charlie Fearon (singer / songwriter) and our 2016 winner, Eliza Hill (singer).

 Jan Cummings, a poet from Bingham, was invited by John Holmes (BBC Radio Nottingham) to appear on his radio show and was strongly encouraged to publish her work; One Giant Causeway were highly commended for their great guitar work, their song writing ability and their unity as a group; Lizzy Watts was told that her ukulele playing was faultless and she “could go far”; Felicity Turner was complimented on a dramatic performance and encouraged to “keep working on an amazing voice”.

Third place Neon Glee gave a unique performance held the audience spellbound as they used their bodies to provide the percussion and beat of their close harmony performance and were great ambassadors for Melton’s Brooksby College. Charlie Fearon, singing his own composition, appeared to sing effortlessly and soon had the audience clapping to the beat and “just loving” his engaging performance.

Fifteen year old Eliza, from Wilford, has lived and breathed musical theatre for as long as she can remember and gave up her place in a local band to follow her preference of musical theatre. She attends The Beckett School and recently achieved an ‘A’ in GCSE Drama and is currently studying Music Technology. Every Saturday she attends the Lace Market Drama School to follow her passion. A passion, which as she performed Stephen Sondheim’s classic and demanding song “Send in The Clowns”, shone through. The judges were ecstatic about her overall performance which was well acted, pitch perfect and sung with great clarity.  “It’s a big number and you captured the emotion as you led us all through the story – you had us hook, line and sinker.” Indeed their compliments went further as they suggested that Eliza’s performance was “almost a West End performance.”

Eliza is a down to earth teenager who is extremely modest about her achievements but equally determined to follow her dream of a career in musical theatre. You can keep a watch eye on her progress on her You Tube channel. When asked what she would do with her prize of £300 she thoughtfully said that she would use some of it to buy Christmas presents for her family. We just hope that she’ll also treat herself!