Isla Cooper aged 12 from Annan has been voted the first ever Maiden of Music at the grand finale of a month-long festival celebrating and promoting female musical talent in Dumfries.
The vote was incredibly close with Isla, who goes to Annan Academy, finishing just one vote ahead of double act Kirsty Hunter and Lauren McDaid – and they were just a single vote ahead of a capella quartet Loka.
Isla Cooper aged 12
Carol Brotherston, one of the Maidens of Music festival and competition organisers, said: “It was a great evening and the audience voting shows what an incredibly close finish it was.
“Isla is a very worthy winner, there’s definitely something very special about her and we hope she will go far.”
The young singer entertained the audience at The Live Lounge, English Street, Dumfries, with a series of covers from top performers including Adele.
Maidens of Music has seen events take place across Dumfries on Saturdays in May and attracted around 1,000 festivalgoers as well as around 150 performers including soloists, bands and choirs. Each week one act was selected to go on to the competition finals.
The festival was set up because Carol and her friends believe that with a bit more encouragement and support there are many more women who would really enjoy getting involved with the world of music.
She said: “We wanted to provide a stage for female musicians, to get them heard and give them the confidence to go on to bigger things.”
The finalists were:
Kirsty Hunter and Lauren McDaid: Two girls who have been known to sing their hearts out in the shower and have now decided to collaborate on stage. Singing a mixture of covers and original songs for the first time together, inspired by the amazing women of the Maidens of Music
Isla Cooper: A 12-year-old solo singer, she won her school talent show with a rendition of Lukas Graham’s Seven Years and was invited to entertain guests at the Annan Riding of the Marches Café Chantant.
Loka: All female a capella quartet. Traditional and popular songs with close harmonies. Loka have performed at Big Burns Supper in Dumfries.
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