Talent contest launched for Manchester businesses community
THE Bridgewater Hall Community Education Trust is launching a city-wide search to find the musical talent that is hiding in Greater Manchester’s boardrooms and offices.
Bridge to the Stars is a talent contest for people who work for the region’s businesses. The winner will get to perform on the main stage at the Bridgewater Hall in front of a specially invited audience.
Before then, six finalists will appear alongside Coronation Street star and singer Catherine Tyldsley and musician Cole Page at a special gala fundraising dinner at The Lowry Hotel. The two celebrities will also help select the winning act on the night.
The contest is open to anyone who works for a Manchester-based business, from the managing director to the office receptionist. Entries can be from amateur singers, soloists or bands.
The Bridge to the Stars contest is being held to celebrate and to raise funds for the Learning and Participation Programme at The Bridgewater Hall, funded by the Hall and the Community Education Trust. There is a £95 entry fee per entrant and sponsorship opportunities are available.
The charity, which is based at The Bridgewater Hall, gives communities of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to listen to music, engage with artists, musicians and poets and to perform. By working with schools and disadvantaged communities, the charity has introduced learning through arts and culture to 1,800 children and 2,500 adults in the last 18 months.
Christine Oxenburgh, trustee of The Bridgewater Hall Community Education Trust, said: “Bridge to the Stars will be a great way of highlighting the work done by the trust. Entrants can be singers or musicians, soloists or bands, receptionists, or managing directors. As long as they have some musical talent and they work for an organisation in the Manchester business community, we want to hear from them.
“We’re not looking for professional singers or musicians, just people who want to have fun and win a unique chance to perform on stage at Manchester’s own world-class concert venue.”
First round auditions are being held at The Bridgewater Hall on 13th and 15th June. For their audition, entrants will have to perform for an X-Factor style judging panel led by Bridgewater Hall chief executive Nick Reed.
Entry forms are available through the Learning pages at http://www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk/content/Learning/BridgetotheStars.aspx or by calling 0161 831 0261. The closing date for entries is Friday 1st June. The final and gala dinner at the Lowry Hotel is being held on Saturday 20th October.
