Jade's aiming for spotlight at 02 Arena

Oakwood Technology College student Jade Wilkinson got behind the microphone for a recording day at Sheffield’s Basement Recording Studios with a little help from the Advertiser after she secured her place in the area finals of Open Mic UK.

Jade recorded a nine-track covers album after winning a prize for creating the most publicity among contestants in the national singing contest.

The 14-year-old, of Whiston, appeared on the front page of the scene in September.

She said: “It was a fantastic day. I recorded some of my favourite tracks and they chose all the best bits and put them together on an album for me. It sounds really good.

“I won the competition for the publicity I got in the regional finals, so it was partly down to the Advertiser that I got into the studio and it was brilliant.”

Jade progressed through the regional heats of Open Mic UK in September after wowing judges with her rendition of On My Own, a song from the smash hit stage musical Fame.

That followed success in the competition’s auditions phase.

Now she is preparing to put her all into an appearance at the North of England area finals, at Dewsbury Town Hall, on December 11.

Success there would see Jade progressing to Open Mic UK’s National Grand Final next year, where she would perform in front of thousands of music fans and be in with a chance of securing a recording deal and around £50,000 worth of prizes.

Jade said: “I’m not expecting to win but simply to reach the finals and to perform at the O2 would be like winning for me. I hope I can get that far.”

Jade cut her performing teeth as a member of Rotherham Teachers’ Student Academy and has performed on stage on numerous occasions.

Last year she proved a hit in Oakwood’s production of Bugsy Malone.

Her teacher, Russ Wood, said: “I’m no music teacher but it’s clear that Jade has a fantastic talent.”