TOP 20: PICK YOUR TIMES TALENT STAR
‘SOPHIE IS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER’
TODAY is your last chance to pick up your voting coupon to choose your winner of our Times Talent competition. The contest, which is supported by food ordering company Foodhub, is set to be won by one of our top 20 finalists.
Reader will choose their winner, who will walk away with a £1000 prize.
There is also a £350 prize for our runner up and £150 up for grabs for our third place contestant.
Our reader will have a hard time choosing who they think deserves to take the top spot.
We have been showcasing our contestants talents over the past few weeks to help you make your decision.
The last of our contestants is 15-year-old singer Sophie Tonner.
The talented teenager hails from Johnstone and has been singing since she was a young girl.
Carrie, Sophie’s mum, said: “Sophie started singing in primary school.
“Every year they did a talent show and her and her wee pal entered and they did really well, but they were quite shy singing on their own.
“Sophie then got asked to take part in the school choir and her confidence grew from there.”
Carrie says that over the past few years, Sophie’s confidence in performing has grown and grown.
She said: “There are still times that she still gets nervous but she has grown so much.
“She took part in the Inverclyde Singing Competition and although she didn’t win it the first time she entered, she won it the second time.
“I told her how amazing this was and that she is just getting better and better.”
Carrie says that the increase in confidence is all thanks to Sophie’s singing teacher, Katy McCue.
Carrie said: “Katy has been amazing and made such a difference in Sophie. She is a great teacher but also helps to support Sophie when she needs it.”
While lockdown has stopped Sophie from taking in-person lessons, she has been able to continue in Zoom.
Carrie said: “She has been able to do Zoom classes during lockdown which is good because she can keep going.
“Last week was the first in ages that she was able to get back into the studio.
“She was so happy because she could finally sing without any distractions from family in the house.”
Sophie, who turned 15 yesterday, is hoping to move onto a career in singing, but mum Carrie says that she still needs that push in confidence.
She said: “She has always spoken about singing in the future but she tells me that she doesn’t think she can make it.
“She is a fantastic singer and we get invited to competitions like The Voice because people recognise her from being online, which is one step towards her achieving her dream.”
Sophie is just one of the last 20 contestants for reader’s to choose their winner from.
To vote for your favourite, use the voting coupon to the left and fill out your details along with your choice for the Times Talent winner.
Videos for all our contestants can be seen at glasgowtimes. co.uk.
Post your completed coupon to Newsquest Media Group, Glasgow Times Talent Competition, Glasgow East Investment Park, 125 Fullarton Drive, Glasgow, G32 8FG.
Voting will close on Thursday, May 6 at 10am, so be sure to have your coupon in by then to make your vote count.