Victoria’s on song after winning Spar Star competition

Victoria has won a starring role in Peter Corry’s festive production, The Music Box, which returns to Belfast Waterfront on December 17,-19.

The Spar Star competition, produced by Spar Northern Ireland, title sponsors of The Music Box, ran for its second year in conjunction with PC Productions and Q Radio.

After two rounds of auditions, Victoria sang her way to victory after a unanimous decision from the judges.

The panel included Bronagh Luke, Head of Corporate Marketing at the Henderson Group, owners of the Spar franchise in Northern Ireland, alongside PC Productions’ Peter Corry, Fleur Mellor and Ashley Fulton, and Cate Conway from the Q Radio Breakfast Show, which hosted part of the competition on-air.

Victoria was given a surprise call by Cate and her Q Radio Breakfast co-host Stephen Clements to reveal they won and have been crowned The Music Box’s 2015 SPAR Star.

The Antrim teenager is absolutely thrilled to have won the role in The Music Box after singing Somewhere over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz in her video audition, which made it through to the final nine live auditions that took place last week.

“I can’t believe I won the Spar Star competition after meeting so many talented performers at the final auditions,” Victoria said.

She added: “I am so excited, I can’t wait to get on stage with all the cast involved in The Music Box this year.

“I’m not sure what I will be singing yet, but rehearsals start very soon and I am looking forward to learning my song and performing it on stage at the Waterfront.”

Bronagh Luke, from the Henderson Group, says the competition is a great way to unearth fresh new talent from Northern Ireland; “This is the second successful Spar Star competition we have held, and the talent we have found is just incredible. I have no doubt that we will see big things from Victoria,” Bronagh said.

Singer Peter Corry, who also produces and directs The Music Box said: “Victoria simply blew us away. We loved the video audition so couldn’t wait to see her sing in person. We’ll be starting rehearsals very soon and are looking forward to the Spar Star being one of our star acts in December.”

This year’s Music Box is an entirely new production, filled with musical gems past, present, traditional and contemporary, taking place from Thursday, December 17 to Saturday, December.

Presented by Peter Corry and supported by Spar Northern Ireland, the show will feature internationally renowned West End leading lady, Joanna Ampil, star of Miss Saigon, Les Miserable and Cats.

Also back by popular demand is Game of Thrones star, Ian McElhinney who returns after his appearance in the show last year. All this in addition to the very finest local talent, the brand new Spar Star, guest choirs, ballet girls and choirboys who together will delight the audience and get everyone in festive mood.

Tickets for The Music Box are on sale now, and available from Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall box offices by calling 028 9033 4455 and at www.waterfront.co.uk.