Isabella hits the top notes to get online talent vote
STUART PIKE
MORE than 2,000 people voted as Rossendale’s Got Talent Online crowned its inaugural winner.
Talented singer Isabella Jones, 16, took the first prize by wowing the public with her rendition of ‘I Didn’t Plan It’ from the musical Waitress.
The Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School student, who has been performing since the age of two and attends Rossendale Dance & Drama Centre, was joined on the prize board by runner up Saskia Starkey, also 16, and third place Amy Singleton, 28.
Delighted Isabella, of Bolton Street, Ramsbottom, said she had done competitions with her dance studio before, but never really entered a talent contest like this.
The former St Andrew’s CE and Helmshore Primary pupil said: “I just feel really grateful and I was really happy that people had watched my video and wanted to vote for me - people that I don’t know. I do a lot of musical theatre and I’ve been performing my entire life. I adore the show and I just love the song. I love dancing and some acting as well.”
Isabella, who is daughter of BRGS art technician Lynne and Justin and has an older brother Gabriel, said her dream would be to end up performing on the West End stage. How
●● Rossendale’s Got Talent Online organiser Peter Sweetmore with the winner Isabella Jones (front), second placed Saskia Starkie (left) and third placed Amy Singleton (right) ever, there are clearly different career options to weigh up as she goes on to Sixth Form to study A Levels in maths, chemistry, drama and psychology.
A Year 11 pupil, she missed out on sitting GCSEs due to the pandemic but said trying to keep happy and busy had helped her in recent months.
“That’s been something to get my head around,” she added. “But I’m a very positive person. I’ve not been too down during lockdown. Definitely keeping up with singing and dancing has been a really good outlet.”
Eight finalists out of more than 50 entries were shortlisted and went head to head on the competition Facebook page for a public vote, vying for cash prizes and a framed certificate donated by competition sponsors – Growtraffic and Killeleas.
The original target for Rossendale Hospice was £500 but, to date, £650 has been raised from the competition.
Organiser Peter Sweetmore said: “We were delighted with the number, quality and diversity of the entries and it gave the judges an unenviable task. For the first attempt at this kind of competition, we were delighted at the money we raised for Rossendale Hospice, and lessons were learned in making another competition even better.”
He said thought is being given to another competition next year, possibly with a live final at a Rossendale venue.
●● The Boo Theatre on Bacup Road, Waterfoot.