Ten talented local artists aged eight-18 years wowed the audience when they took to the stage last Saturday to perform in the Noosa STARS Alive 2023 final, before judges announced the winners, Tatum Furniss and Harriette Larner, who performed a vocally polished and entertaining Taylor Swift mash up.
The finalists were outstanding as they sang, danced and played musical instruments, making choosing a winner a difficult decision for judges, Noosa Alive artistic director Ian Mackellar, festival president Andrew Stafford and special guest judge Rhonda Burchmore.
“We’re thrilled as a festival to showcase, nurture and develop this astounding talent on the coast,“ Ian said.
“It’s something we’re very proud of.“
“The talent, Noosa – you are phenomenal – the variety, the confidence,“ Rhonda said.
“The raw talent is phenomenal. Well done mums and dads for all the classes you do.“
This year’s winner received $1000 toward developing their professional self and a guaranteed performance in Noosa Alive 2024.
The competition’s inaugural winner in 2022, Sari Abbott, used her winnings to produce an album.
On Saturday Sari told the audience she hadn’t expected to win the competition against so many “amazing acts“ then spoke about the benefits it had brought her.
“One of the best things was – my name in places it wasn’t before. I’ve been able to get heaps of gigs. I’ve been making connections, meeting people,“ she said.
Sari Abbott performed her single, Feels like home, which she wrote about her “beautiful music family“ and continued with a 75-minute set as part of Alive in the Woods.
