Thamesmead Teenager Performs at BBC Proms

Thamesmead teenager Georgia Collins (15) has beaten off 2,000 hopefuls to win a place in the BBC Proms 2007 40-strong children's choir.

She will be performing in The Water Diviner's Tale, which will be broadcasted live on BBC Radio 3 from the Royal Albert Hall this Bank Holiday Monday, 27 August (3:00-4:00pm)

Georgia has already tasted fame this year, when she took part in Trust Thamesmead's T Factor talent contest. Making it through to the finals, she said at the time: “The T Factor has been amazing. I have enjoyed every minute.”

Georgia spoke to Trust Thamesmead from ‘boot camp', where she has spent the past week preparing for the concert.

“'Boot camp' has been fantastic - busy but exciting,” said Georgia. “We work 9:00am-6:00pm every day, mainly on our vocal chords.

“A friend told me about the BBC Proms auditions, so I filled in the form and attended a workshop audition where we had to sing scales and then some of us were asked back that afternoon and were told we were through.

“I was really nervous when I first arrived but everyone is so lovely. On the first day we were thrown in the deep end. We started off by going round the group and telling everyone interesting facts about ourselves, then we worked on harmonising together and then we were split into groups. It really broke the ice.

“We work hard but we have fun too - we were taken to see the Venezuelan Youth Orchestra Proms on Sunday and tonight (Tuesday) we are putting on a cabaret in front of staff about staff. I'm playing Kate who is one of the organisers - she is really lovely.”

“Performing in front of thousands at the Royal Albert Hall is going to be unbelievable. I hope I go on to gain more performing experience and then a place at the Brit school. I'd love to be a recording artist or a singing teacher one day.”

The Water Diviner's Tale is a story about a natural disaster that has befallen a city and which has separated the Lost Children from their families who, whilst searching for relatives in the desolate area, come across the Water Diviner, who believes the city's leaders have ignored his warnings and failing his task of following the water and telling its stories, causing disaster to strike.