Amazing array of talent from youngsters at the Great Bowden Recital Trust’s Junior X Factor 2020 contest

Two fantastic teenagers were so well-matched they couldn’t be split in a Market Harborough music charity’s talent competition.

Ione Banks, 15, and Naomi Benson, 17, were judged joint winners of the best original composition in Great Bowden Recital Trust’s Junior X Factor 2020 contest.

The two brilliant neck-and-neck teens will receive music store vouchers and an engraved glass trophy after finishing locked together.

Excited Ione and Naomi will also have a one to one session with BAFTA crew member and composer Andrea Possee at her studio.

There they will receive piercing feedback on their music and a fascinating insight into Andrea’s writing process.

Heats were held on the weekend of March 13th-15th before the country went into coronavirus lockdown.

The prestigious competition drew over 60 entrants aged from seven to 18.

The panel listened to more than 11 hours of auditions over three days and the “standard was incredibly high”.

The charity said it was “therefore with great regret that we had to cancel the finals concert due to take place on Saturday March 21 due to the COVID-19 restrictions on social gatherings”.

“But obviously ensuring everyone’s health and safety had to be our main priority.”

“We were able to award the prize for Best Original Composition as this had been judged in advance.

“The remaining prizes will not be awarded this year as they were due to be based on performances in the finals.

“Instead, we have divided up the funds set aside for paying for vocal or instrumental lessons to award a prize for the Most Promising Instrumentalist and Most Promising Vocalist in each age category in the heats and for the Most Promising Group.”

Managing Trustee Sue Benson said: “We had some very talented young people taking part in the competition this year.

“We would like to thank them all for the hard work that went into preparing for the heats.”

She added: “We are hoping the finalists will have an opportunity to perform at our Community Concert later this year if restrictions have been lifted by then.

“We would like to say thank you to the competition’s sponsors Market Harborough and the Bowdens Charity, Horsfall and Son Plumbing Services and Studio 34.”

Finalists

Well done to the following entrants who achieved a score of 63 or more (out of 75) in the heats and would have been given a place in the Finals (listed in alphabetical order by first name):

Amber Mullings

Amelia McMillan

Boris Dring

Brennan Vick

Damien Cowie

Ione Banks

Joseph Pugh

Lily and Maisie

Lotti Timson

Maisie Meldrum

Naomi Benson

Oliver Horn

Riley Vick

The Rigby Quartet

The Wonderkatz

Best Original Composition: Ione Banks and Naomi Benson (joint winners).

Most Promising Group: The Wonderkatz.

Most Promising Instrumentalists: Riley Vick (School Years 1-6); Boris Dring (School Years 7-9); The Rigby Quartet (School Years 10-13).

Most Promising Vocalists: Amber Mullings (School Years 1-6); Joseph Pugh (School Years 7-9); Lotti Timson (School Years 10-13).