A talented student from a north Norfolk school has been named as a finalist in national song writing competition.
Romy Sipek, a year eight pupil at Gresham's Prep School, Holt, has had her song Devil from Above shortlisted as one of 10 finalists in the seven to 12-year-old category of the Young Songwriter Competition 2014.
Miss Sipek, who wrote her first song when she was 10 years old, will perform the song with a professional band at the Song Academy showcase in London in June.
She has so far written six songs and is currently working on her seventh. Inspired by electronic chart music and Taylor Swift, she said: 'It's always been a dream of mine to be a songwriter. I didn't expect to make the final but now I have, I'm very excited'.
The national competition, which is now in its third year, is a platform for aspiring young songwriters to have their songs heard by industry professionals, with an opportunity to release their own single.
The school's director of music, Nathan Waring, said: 'Romy has shown considerable flair as a singer/songwriter since her early days at Gresham's Pre-Prep. She regularly performs her own music, accompanying herself on the piano or guitar in school concerts and I'm thrilled that she has now achieved some national recognition for her talent.'
The judging panel, which includes songwriters Jamie Scott, Debbie Wiseman, Rob Davis and producers Lyn Goddard and Denzyl Feigelson, will choose the winner of the competition on May 12. They will then get the chance to record their song at a London recording studio.
Eg White, a British musician, songwriter and producer, who is best known for his work with artists Duffy and Adele, added: 'Normally upon listening to the results of a song writing competition, what comes across is how the competitors are trying to write commercial sounding music or impress with their cleverness or catchiness, but listening to these songs, I just really enjoyed the music, and could actually feel the people behind the songs, which has to be pretty close to the whole point of writing.'
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