Open Mic UK

[3][4] The event, which offers a recording contract and investment to the final winner, was described by Joel James of BBC York & North Yorkshire as "one of the toughest competitions in the country.

"[5] According to its organizers, Open Mic UK is the largest music search in the United Kingdom for vocal groups and solo artists.

[8] Each year the different category winners are invited to go on the Open Mic UK Tour, performing up to 100 different gigs across the United Kingdom.

[20] In addition to giving all acts feedback from the judges,[21] the competition also awards prizes across the board regionally; including recording studio time[22] and singing lessons.

Anderson later went on to perform at Walkers Stadium on Boxing Day,[32] and in April 2010 became the youngest soprano in history to play Mimì in Puccini's opera La bohème.

[47] The 2011 Open Mic UK competition also saw a very young Lauren Thalia go far in the contest[48] who later got to the Grand Final of ITV’s Britain's Got Talent (series 6) show receiving over 2 million views on YouTube.

Giles Potter,[54] Alejandro Fernandez-Holt[55] - both of whom competed in The X Factor (UK series 10) and got as far as the Judges’ Houses[56] and Bootcamp[57] respectively - and Arisxandra Libantino[58] who came very close to winning ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent.

[60][61] The judging panel for the National Grand Final included: Kerrang Radio, Planet Rock, and 4Music presenter Alex Baker;[62] Sony Music Entertainment talent producer Eddie Evelyn-Hall;[63] Mark Hill - who boasts four Ivor Novello Awards, a number one album, two number one singles and over 10 million record sales worldwide;[64] managing director of River Studios, Gareth Henderson - who has produced for the likes of Alesha Dixon, Corinne Bailey Rae, Birdy and Luke Friend;[65] Tanya Anderson - who has choreographed for acts on the JLS Farewell Tour and the Music Video Awards;[66] A&R scout for Universal Music Group James Morgan;[67] showbiz journalist Jon Hornbuckle;[68] founder of www.music-news.com Marco Gandolfi;[69] songwriter/producer Simon Britton - who has worked with the likes of Eminem, Sting, Usher, Michael Jackson, and Sean Paul;[70] producer and presenter for BBC Introducing Merlin D;[71] and head of Future Music Management Chris Grayston.

The Open Mic UK Grand Final took place at The NEC in Birmingham and gave acts the chance to perform in front of a music industry judging panel which included record label representatives from Sony and Universal.

Richard Jones was crowned champion in front of a capacity crowd and a prestigious music industry judging panel at The NEC in Birmingham.

His original song called "Temptation" won over the competition industry judges making him the overall winner of Open Mic UK.

[73] Tom Auton won the under 16’s age category and later that year went on to win the Future Music Songwriting competition at Dingwall’s in Camden.

[74] Heather Cameron Hayes later making it to the semi-final of The Voice on BBC[75] along with other Future Music competition acts Rachel Ann TeenStar winner, Farheem, Tobias Robertson, Eli Cripss, Deano and Lydia Lucy to name a few.

15-year-old Lola Young from South London was crowned Open Mic UK winner for 2015, fending off stiff competition from artists across various age categories.

It marked a huge personal achievement for the young singer-songwriter, who had entered the competition numerous times previous, including running off stage in tears in her earlier years.

Lola's original song called "Never Enough" won over the competition industry judges making her the overall winner of Open Mic UK.

[78] The panel that judged the Grand Final included; TV personality and Leading vocal coach CeCe Sammy who has worked with Diana Ross, Will Young, Simon Cowell and Leona Lewis.

Reuel Elijah was the overall winner of the music competition, receiving studio time to record his album and a video of the best single, plus extensive media promotion from a professional PR company.

Jayne Collins, Artist Manager and founder of the very successful pop groups, including The Wanted and The Saturdays.

North London singer-songwriter Natalie Lindi was the Overall winner of the music competition, receiving studio time to record her album and a video of the best single, plus extensive media promotion from a professional PR company and a one on one vocal technique session with celebrity vocal coach CeCe Sammy.

The 2019 judging panel included; BAFTA award-winning presenter and vocalist Carrie Grant, A&R Manager Leon Haynes of Polydor Records, whose artists have included Lana Del Rey, Billie Eilish and Ellie Goulding, Capital Xtra DJ Ras Kwame, singer, songwriter and producer, Suzanna Dee and Head of Future Music and responsible for discovering Birdy (singer), Lucy Spraggan, Luke Friend and more Chris Grayston.