Well done to both Dania (Year 9) and Kacie (Year11) for taking part in Blackpool Music Service's Pop Idol 2024 last night, the popular annual competition giving new, young, gifted singers from Fylde coast schools the chance to showcase their talent.

The event was held at Montgomery Academy in front of a packed crowd and judges Hayley Kay, BBC Radio Lancashire presenter, and Chrissie Mason, musical director of The Capricorn Singers.

Although performing to a large audience can be a daunting experience, our students embraced the opportunity with aplomb, Dania singing a Japanese song called Into the night by Yoasabi, stunning the audience with very quick Japanese lyrics sung perfectly and two difficult key changes, while Kacie gave her rendition of Someone you loved by Lewis Capaldi, expressing the lyrics beautifully with the tonal light and shade of her voice.

Despite not placing in the top three, both girls really enjoyed taking part and will be able to add it to their CVs, which includes other live performances and being part of Aspire's performing arts company Pzazz.

Miss Mackay, who accompanied them to the competition, said: "I'm so proud of Dania and Kacie, it takes a lot of nerve to get up on stage and sing in front of people you don't know and they did it so well. The competition was extremely tough, but our girls did themselves and Aspire Academy proud."