AND THE WINNER OF THE
CONCORDE FACTOR 2009 is ....
Leanne Fielder
photo courtesy of Stuart McWilliam
photo courtesy of Stuart McWilliam
from left to right
Terry Rolph (Avenue Artistes), Ian James (Les Hart Entertainments), Kirstie & Jamie Mathieson (The Concorde Club),
Roy G Hemmings (ex lead singer of The Drifters),
Leanne Fielder (Winner of the Concorde Factor 2009),
Barry Upton (co creator of Steps), Jane Carley (Wessex Cancer Trust), Steve Willis (AND Records), Martin Perry (AND Magazine)
photo courtesy of Stuart McWilliam
The Final 3!
Leanne Fielder, Lucy Smith & Marlene Hill
For photos of The Final please visit
www.stuartmcwilliamphotography.co.uk
Or to order a DVD of the event call Kirstie on 023 8061 3989
The long awaited Final of The Concorde Factor!, The Concorde Club’s quest to find singing talent in Hampshire, was once again a closely contended contest with an exciting finish!
The 10 remaining acts each had to perform one song in each half. Emma Barney & Jack White had the unenviable task of opening the show & performed their version of Leona Lewis’s ‘Run’ with Jack accompanying on the piano. Other highlights from the first half include Marlene Hill’s version of ‘Bless This Child’, Anna Parson’s ‘Tainted Love Medley’, Ebonie G’s incredibly energetic & show stopping ‘Afrodisiac’ and Lucy Smith’s fantastic ‘I Try’ as Macy Gray’s alter ego!
The standard of all of the Finalists was incredibly high & neither the judges nor the audience could predict a winner at the interval stage.
The entrants yet again raised the standard further in the 2nd half, each of them coming out with a completely contrasting song, showing the versatility of their talent.
Highlights for the 2nd half were Marc Higgins rendition of Will Young’s ‘Leave Right Now’ – a song that suited his voice brilliantly, Louisa Allen’s quirky interpretation of ‘Make You Feel My Love’ & Ruth Savill’s mesmerising version of Eva Cassidy ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’, Leanne Fielder’s ‘River Deep, Mountain High’ & Eliza Dunn’s charming ‘That’s what Friends Are For’.
The judges had the unenviable task of whittling down the acts. The top 2 acts as voted by the judges automatically went through to the Final Sing Off. The acts positioned in 3rd, 4th & 5th after the judges vote were put to the Audience Vote - namely Ebonie G, Ruth Savill & Lucy Smith. Lucy Smith was voted the clear winner by the Audience & joined Marlene Hill & Leanne Fielder in the Final Sing Off.
Each of the final 3 sang again & the judges had one vote each. It was a nail-biting finish with many of the judges changing their minds from their original choices, however Leanne Fielder was eventually crowned Winner of The Concorde Factor 2009.
The Final Sing Off was so close with 2 of the judges voting for Lucy, 3 voting for Marlene but Leanne just pipped the other 2 acts with 4 of the judges votes.
‘I voted for Leanne because she has got the illusive ‘something’ – she is a completely natural performer and I was mesmerised by her total performance.’ comments judge Jane Carley of the Wessex Cancer Trust, ‘The Concorde Factor has been great fun and I hope we have been able to showcase some of the talent that is right here in our area. I am delighted that the Wessex Cancer Trust has been the benefitting charity for the Concorde Factor – it has been a great profile raiser for the Trust as well as raising much needed funds for the work of the charity’
Jamie Mathieson of the Concorde Club, ‘Part of the prize for the Winner was 5 paid engagements here at the Concorde, so I was looking for someone who was already a polished act that could command the stage & the audience. My vote throughout the evening had been for Leanne but Marlene's version of It's Raining Men received a standing ovation & I had a last minute change of vote! However any of the Final 3 could have won the competition & I am delighted for Leanne. I very much look forward to welcoming her back onto the stage of The Concorde in the next few months’
Martin Perry of AND Magazine 'Leanne’s performance of ‘Stop’ in the Sing Off was the performance of the night for me & therefore she won my vote!'
Roy G Hemmings, the ex lead singer & longest serving member of The Drifters who joined the panel of judges for the Final commented ‘I have been absolutely amazed at the standard of performance I have seen tonight. Many of the acts could seriously have a great career in the entertainment business. Deciding between the Final 3 acts was so hard – all 3 were deserving of the title! Lucy is a natural comedian & entertainer with a great act, she could do very well. From the first 2 performances Leanne had won my vote - she is the complete package, she is a very sexy looking lady, with an incredible voice & stage presence. However Marlene’s fantastic encore of ‘It’s Raining Men’ stole my vote in the Sing Off – she really got the crowd going & her fantastic personality shone through plus in her earlier performance of ‘Bless This Child’ her phrasing was faultless’
Kirstie Mathieson of The Concorde Club ‘My final vote went to Lucy, as she is truly unique! Every time she came on to perform she surprised me. It was an incredibly tough decision though as throughout the evening Leanne and Marlene had been my favourites. I can’t wait for next year’s competition!’
In addition to the 5 paid engagements at the Concorde Club, Leanne Fielder won £1000. Each of the Finalists will be recording a track for a CD that is to be distributed on the cover of AND Magazine
A DVD of the Concorde Factor will be on sale shortly – please contact Kirstie at the Concorde Club on 023 8061 3989 for further details.
Second Semi Final Results!
After yet another close contest the judges have decided the 5 acts going through to the Final from The Second Semi Final are:
Louisa Allen
Emma Barney & Jack White
Eliza Dunn
Ebonie G
Anna Parsons
For photos of this Semi Final please visit
www.2amphotography.co.uk
First Semi Final Results!
After an extremely close contest the judges have decided the 5 acts going through to the Final from The First Semi Final are:
Leanne Fielder
Marc Higgins
Marlene Hill
Ruth Savill
Lucy Smith
For photos of this Semi Final please visit
www.stuartmcwilliamphotography.co.uk
Semi Finalists Announced!
After an incredible day of auditions on Saturday the panel of judges are delighted to announce that the Semi Finalists are as follows:
Tuesday 10 February
Lucy Athawes
Jenny Coles
Caryn Drake
Russell Edmonds
Leanne Fielder
Michelle Johnson
Ruth Hackston
Marc Higgins
Marlene Hill
Charley Macaulay
Stuart Madgwick
James McGinty
Stacey Mogg
Ruth Savill
Lucy Smith
Lydia Thomas
Jennifer Tilley
Tuesday 17 February
Louisa Allen
Clifford Allen-Bones
Simon Ayers
Karen Barnett
Emma Barney & Jack White
Eliza Dunn
Abi Fancourt
Maryellen Feltham
Maria Flight
Ebonie G
Michael Giller
Katie Hartland
Denise Medley
The Devotions - Dani Miell, Vicki Smith & Kelly Aldridge
Kirsty Nutman
Anna Parsons
India Rose
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