Young talent wows the crowd at Carlisle mayor's charity concert
Last updated 09:52, Monday, 20 October 2008
Singing star Andrew Johnston topped the bill at a glittering concert showcasing Carlisle’s rich young talent last night.
- Slideshow: pictures from the mayor's concert
The Carlisle teenager – whose debut album One Voice entered the UK charts at number four – received a standing ovation at the city’s Sands Centre.
In spite of countless TV appearances, the 14-year-old, of Stanwix – who shot to fame on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent – admitted he was nervous to perform for a crowd that included his mum and gran.
He said: “It’s nerve-wracking because it’s your home town and you want to impress.”
Andrew shared the stage with an array of Carlisle talent, including more than 250 children from four stage schools. The sell-out concert was arranged to raise funds for the Mayor of Carlisle’s Charity Fund.
He said: “It’s a great honour to sing for the mayor and for the charity – I hope it makes lots of money.”
Hosted by Border TV’s Helen Pearson and Rob McNulty, the diverse show ranged from musical showstoppers to breakdancing.
Performers included classical pianist Alessandra Pompili and country and western singer Claire Hart.
The show began with a heartfelt cover of Abba’s I Have A Dream, sung by children from all four theatre groups. For Jacquelyne Geddes, the Mayor of Carlisle, it was an emotional moment.
She said: “I cried through the opening number, because this is my dream. What a wonderful way to celebrate the talent of young people, and at the same time raise thousands of pounds to help others.”
Sponsored by The Cumberland News and Sandy Sike Builder’s Merchants, Longtown, the concert is expected to have made more than £10,000.
The money will go towards a new minibus for MENCAP Carlisle, the main beneficiary of the mayor’s charitable fund.
Organiser David McNeill, Cumbrian Newspapers’ promotions manager, was responsible for bringing kids together from Spotlight Theatre Arts School, StagedRight Youth Theatre, Stanwix School Choir and Razzamataz Theatre School.
He said: “I’m delighted with how it went – it just goes to show what a wonderful city we live in. But I couldn’t have done it without my dedicated team.
“It’s great to see so many children from different groups working together. In the end they all aspire to be like Andrew – and he’s such a lovely boy.”
