‘Miss’ combines Maths & Music to win!

14th December 2011

UW Newport student combines maths teaching placement with passion for singing and wins Queens Arcade talent competition

There was abundant talent on show on Friday night as Cardiff’s Queens Arcade hosted its second Xmas Factor final showcasing nearly 40 of South Wales’ most talented singers, dancers and street performers.

However, it was Newport’s 22 year-old Emma Love who came away the winner, taking the title for 2011 and the opportunity to sing in front of 20,000 at Cardiff City Stadium when The Blues take on The Dragons on Friday 23rd December! Emma’s rendition of Dolly Parton’s ‘I will always love you’ (made famous by Whitney Houston in the film ‘The Bodyguard’) sent shivers down the judges’ spines and she was unanimously awarded the top spot in what was a very closely contested event. Her performance came during a spectacular evening of entertainment which saw local street dance troupes, dance schools, performing arts students, buskers and breakdancers, beat boxers and a football freestyler take to the stage in their bid to win the trophy and the opportunity. Second place went to Ash Randall, football freestyler and third to Hazel's Girls, a local dance troupe.

The judges, including X-Factor bootcamp contestant John Adams of Aberdare, Ceri Brockway of Queens Arcade and Simon Dibley of UDO, the UK street dance championship organisers, were delighted by the performances of the contestants during the final. Said Ceri, “We were in awe of the talent, enjoyment and the level of commitment evidenced by the performers who ranged in age from just 4 years old to their late 30s! They certainly put on a fantastic night of entertainment and it was a tough decision. However, Emma’s powerful and emotional performance of such a well-known song really stood out and we were delighted to award her the trophy.”

Emma who is studying at the University of Wales, Newport and is on placement at Croesyceiliog School in Cwmbran teaching maths, only started entering competitions this year, “having never really had the confidence to do so before.” She recently reached the South West, London & Wales Area Final of Open Mic UK and will be in the Welsh Factor Final on 20th December and the Fame Factor UK semi-final on 4th January, but this is the first competition she has won.

Emma, “I didn’t expect my name to be called out as the standard of the acts was very high and I honestly didn’t expect anything! I even had my coat on ready to go! I chose that song because it is just an amazing song and I wanted to try and do it some justice. You get everyone singing all the newer songs and people forget about the older ones that are just as good, if not better.”

Emma has been singing since Year 9 in school and seems to be the first in her family with such a voice. When asked how she felt about singing in front of a potential crowd of 20,000 at Cardiff City Stadium Emma said, “I’m excited to be singing in front of 20,000! It means a lot to me, it’s nice to be able to showcase my voice and hopefully people will like it! Singing is my passion and to get somewhere with it would just make me the happiest person!”

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