Riccardo raises his voice to earn place on TV show
ASCHOOLBOY from Bamford sang his heart out to win a place on The Voice Kids and coaching from pop star Pixie Lott.
Riccardo Atherton wowed the judges in his blind audition for the ITV show with his rendition of ‘Hallelujah’ by Leonard Cohen, sung in the style of Jennifer Hudson.
Despite only being 14, Riccardo’s incredible performance and emotional delivery convinced all three judges, Will.i.am, Pixie Lott and McFly’s Danny Jones to turn round their chairs and offer him a place on their team.
Riccardo, who lives with his Italian mother Cristiana and English father Justin, began singing as a young child and became inspired to perform at his primary school choir. He said: “It made me fall in love with it and I have been performing ever since.
“I have never done anything that big before, it was on a completely other level so I was extremely nervous but in a way that’s a good thing because that’s what gave me the emotion in the song.
“Even if I hadn’t got through it would have still been an amazing experience, my goal was just to do a performance that I was proud of and that’s what I did. I’m so pleased to be coming back for the battle stage.”
The judges were blown away by Riccardo who was the final performer of the show, broadcast on Saturday, June 10.
Danny Jones said his performance gave them ‘goosebumps’ while Will.i.am told Riccardo ‘you sound spectacular’. while Pixie Lott added ‘your voice sounds insane’.
Riccardo,who is in his third year at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, made his ultimate choice of songstress Pixie as his coach, saying her singing style and journey best reflected his own.
He added: “I didn’t expect any of the judges to turn round, and when they all did I was lost for words, I was so shocked.
“At school everyone’s been so supportive of me. People who watched the show have told me they really enjoyed it, and that makes me feel really happy because all I have ever wanted to do is entertain people.”
Headmaster Alan Porteous, said: “All at BRGS are proud of Riccardo’s recent appearance and wish him every success in the next stage of the competition. Riccardo has sung in school on various occasions and we are always impressed by his voice and how he can engage so well with the audience. Staff and students are highly supportive of Riccardo as he works to fulfil his ambition.”
The young winner of the spin-off show will win £30,000 towards a music scholarship and a trip to Disneyland.