THE Voice Kids star Phoebe Maddison was among the winners of the Swindon Rotary Club Young Musician of the Year competition.

Over three hours, 27 singers and instrumentalists from six schools did their best to impress the judges in front of an audience of parents, family and friends in the Blunsdon House Hotel.

The evening began with Joseyana Costa singing Where is love? from Ol;iver and ended with Sam Holloway singing You're gonna miss me when I'm gone. The competitors were judged by adjudicators Sheila Harrod for voice and Ian Bateman for instrumentalists. Both were full of praise and constructive remarks for the talents of every entrant and called them all winners.

They highlighted a rendition of Moon River played by Sally Armstrong on the harp - the first time the instrument featured in the long-running competition - and Salewa Funsho's performance of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, as well as Sebastian Scanlon playing classical guitar and Phoebe Maddison singing On My Own from Les Miserables. The Mayor of Swindon Junab Ali, presented certificates and Music Shop vouchers to all the entrants who were awarded places. The Rev Geoffrey Gleed was Master of Ceremonies, a role he conducted with a mix of genuine knowledge of music and amusing church stories.  

The Young Musician of the Year Competition has been staged by the Rotary Club of Swindon every year since 1997.