Talent shines out

The Talent Oxford competition took centre stage at Templars Square shopping centre in Cowley on Saturday as dozens of performers showed off their skills.

The auditions were run alongside the national Talent Rocks competition and the finals for both will be held at the Kassam Stadium on June 3 and 4.

Thirteen-year-old competitor Kyron Anthony, from Blackbird Leys, wowed the crowds with a freestyle dance routine.

The KC’s School of Dance member, who has represented England at international level and performed at the O2 Arena in London last week, said: “It was good.

“I was a little bit nervous but it was good fun.

“It’s freestyle so it’s not planned, I just get up there and see what happens.”

His mother Elaine Eadle said: “He’s been dancing since he was seven and his ambition is to be a choreographer.”

St Gregory the Great pupil Raymond Pelekamoyo, who performed a contemporary dance routine, said: “It went well, although I think I could have done better.

“I don’t do many competitions so I just wanted to give it a different edge.

“It’s been a really good day and I’ve met some great people with great personalities.”

Singer-songwriter Sam Cusden, from Kidlington, took part fresh from trying his luck at ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent.

The 17-year-old said: “It’s different being here than at Britain’s Got Talent, but it’s still pressure.

“Hopefully one day I can make it professionally.”

Talent Oxford founder and judge Lydiah Igweh said: “We’ve got loads of performers and people have seen what’s going on and have signed up on the day.

“I think they just think ‘let’s go for it’.

“We’ve had all sorts of acts, including dancers, singers, magicians, a clown, a majorette and even an opera singer last week.

“To have opera in Cowley Centre was crazy.”

She added: “I’ve been really impressed with the standard. There’s a lot of talent in Oxford and they’re all so young so it all looks good for the future.”

To find out more about the competition, visit talentoxford.co.uk