So Far so good for rising star
Knowing the writer of the song she was about to sing would be listening made Holly Muirhead even more determined to get it right.
Holly, 14, sung So Far at the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards at Gore in June, with the song’s composer, Jenny Mitchell, in the audience. ‘‘I think it made me more proud to sing it and do it well,’’ Holly, of Invercargill, said.
‘‘I put everything into it ... it was my best performance ever.’’
Afterwards, Mitchell gave Holly a hug and congratulated her.
Holly’s success has continued with her winning eight titles at the Waimate Junior and International Country Music Awards last weekend.
She and four others from Southland – Tahla Ward, 12, of Riverton; Deacon Kynan-Wilde, 10, of Winton; and Shanna-Beth Smith, 8, and her brother, Joshua Smith, 6, of Otautau – returned home with impressive results.
Holly, who is also a guitarist, won every category she entered to be overall winner of the intermediate section.
She also won country solo, country rock, New Zealand song, traditional song, song writer, first equal in gospel and won a duet award with Tahla.
As the competition unfolded, Holly felt she was performing OK against entertainers from Christchurch south.
Royden and Sharon Muirhead were proud parents as Holly’s successes were read out.
‘‘She did very, very well,’’ Royden said.
Holly had her first taste of public singing in a Myross Bush School production five years ago. The experience influenced her to continue singing and when her parents gave her a guitar for Christmas in 2016, Holly taught herself to play it using You Tube videos.
Her goal is to perform overseas. ‘‘I’d love to play at gigs all over the world ... it would be awesome.’’