Amy wows Letterkenny with Dolly and Whitney hit

Londonderry father Allan Gardiner is proud as punch after his daughter won the Grand finale of The Audition 2014 competition in An Grianán Theatre in Letterkenny on Sunday.
Amy Gardiner.Amy Gardiner.
Amy Gardiner.

The talented teen wowed the audience with her rendition of the Dolly Parton and Whitney Houston record, ‘I Will Always Love You.’

She beat nine other acts to claim the top prize of 5,000 euros plus 3,000 euros worth of recording time at Full Tilt studios.

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“It was a full theatre and we had about 40 of her close family and friends, who made the journey down,” said Allan.

He said the ambitious song choice clearly impressed the audience.

“The minute they announced the song she was going to sing, you could hear the gasps around the auditorium.

“It’s one of those songs that people think no-one would take on but she was brilliant,” said Allan.

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Amy faced opposition from talented young artists from Letterkenny, Buncrana and Omagh.

Despite the fact she is completing her GCSEs at school, Amy is no stranger to the stage or to the recording studio.

Last year she recorded her first original track ‘Leave You Behind’ just months after Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon gave the 15 year old their votes of confidence at a ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ audition in Cardiff.

Prior to her showstopping rendition of Dolly Parton, Amy had impressed The Audition with the Ewan MacColl penned Roberta Flack hit, ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.’“We are very proud of her,” said Allan. “It’s a great prize. She’ll knuckle down for the exams and then during the summer go down to Full Tilt to do a few recording sessions.”