Singing teens are on track to win

Lucie Francis, 16, Meghan Parr, 16, and Clarisse Mizoule, 14, got through the auditions stage of the Open MicUK competition last week. On October 18 they will perform at the regional finals in front of judges and a live audience.

Open MicUK is judged by representatives of the major record labels and people involved in the industry. It rose the profile of 2013 X-Factor finalist Luke Friend.

If they are successful at the next stage they will go through to the area finals and be in with a chance to win £5,000. Lucie, who has reached the regional finals once before, said: “It’s another massive confidence boost and it’s so surreal it’s happening. You perform live in front of judges.”

Millais School pupil Clarisse said: “I have been singing half of my life. If I need to get away from something, I will lose myself in my singing. I would realy like to do this as a career. It’s the one thing I absolutely love. I don’t know what I would do without singing.”

Clarisse chose a French song to sing, which she felt was a bit of a risk. She said: “I didn’t expect it. I did a French song because I love that song.

“That was a huge risk because they can’t understand it. I really didn’t expect them to like it as much as they did.”

Meghan, who also goes to Millais, only started singing a few months ago after playing the piano for years.

She said: “It was a massive surprise. I have never believed I could sing.

“I’m horrible at auditions. I’m always so scared. Everyone else (in my Open Mic group) had three minutes and they stopped me after 30 seconds.

“I felt like I hadn’t got through. It was because they had heard enough and they put me through.”

If the girls prove successful at the regional finals, they will go the area finals. If they are successful at that stage, they will compete in the grand final and be in with a chance to win £5,000 cash, recording time in a studio, singing lessons and musical development classes.