STUDENTS from Droitwich Spa High School scooped three of the five awards on offer at this year’s W-Factor competition.
The winners were revealed in front of a packed audience at Pershore’s Number 8 Community Arts Centre, which saw 35 young people from across Wychavon compete in front of family and friends for the accolade of being crowned a winner in one of the five categories.
Judges, singer Tracy Norman, artist Sarah Edwards and dance specialist Jenny Northam crowned Droitwich Spa’s Lauren Nicole as the winner of the 14 to 18s singing category after her original version of ‘Skinny Jeans’ which was emotive and engaging.
Maddie Henn, Lauren Finch and Freya Preece picked up the dance category award for their original dance piece and, completing the hat-trick of awards for the school, Sophie Groves won the visual arts category for her dress and design book.
Wychavon Arts Development Officer Jenny Davis said: “It was a fantastic evening and the competition was as a tough as ever with the talent and passion of the young people taking part evident.
“It’s been wonderful to see the performers grow in confidence following on from the auditions and although not everyone could be selected as a winner, every participant achieved so much by getting through to the final stage of the competition.”
Miss Norman, said: “I was really impressed with the production values and it was very slick, the standard of the singers was really high and just gets better every year.”
Other winners included Blackminster Middle School student Liam Clear, winner of the 11 to 13s singing category and Prince Henry’s High School group, The Decorators which is made up of Brad Nash, Michael Lolley, Rhys Milbery, Brent McOmish, Matt Manns, Jonathan Deakin, Doug Haycock and Isaac Pillar won the ensemble singing category.
The W-Factor winners will receive assistance with further training. They will also be invited to perform at events across Wychavon throughout the year.
Dance category winners at the W-Factor Maddie Henn, Lauren Finch and Freya Preece. Picture by The Shutter Crew.
Visual arts category winner Sophie Groves accepts her award. Picture by The Shutter Crew.