Belfast's Zoe Hits High Notes in BBC Young Chorister Final!

Zoe, a talented twelve-year-old singer from Belfast, has been passionate about music since she was very young. Her interest in choral music grew when she started attending Methodist College Belfast, where she became involved in the school choir. Recently, Zoe had the exciting opportunity to compete as a finalist in the BBC Young Chorister of the Year competition. She was up against two other finalists, Thomas from Buckinghamshire and Leo from London. The final, which was broadcast on Sunday, saw Leo take home the top prize, but Zoe’s journey was filled with memorable moments and praise from the judges. In the final round, Zoe performed 'The Lord bless you and keep you' by John Rutter, following her semi-final performance of Benjamin Britten’s 'The Birds'. Zoe described the experience of singing for the judges as a 'big day'. The panel included well-known figures such as choirmaster Gareth Malone, singer and vocal coach Michelle John, and conductor Harry Bradford. The competition was held at Hallé St Peter’s in Manchester, a modern building with brown bricks and glass doors. Zoe was seen outside the venue, dressed in a grey cardigan and carrying a backpack, ready for her big moment. After her final performance, presenter Aled Jones called her rendition 'fantastic'. Judge Harry Bradford praised Zoe’s ability to connect with the audience, while Michelle John complimented her storytelling and spirit. Gareth Malone described Zoe as 'such an exciting singer', highlighting her talent and stage presence. Zoe expressed how thrilled she was to be selected for the competition, especially since she was chosen from hundreds of contestants across the UK. She said it was an amazing opportunity and felt blessed to be able to move and touch the audience with her singing. Zoe’s love for music comes from her family. Her father plays guitar and her sister plays piano, making music a big part of their lives. When Zoe was five, her family moved to New Zealand, where she joined a ukulele club and learned to play the instrument. In addition to singing and playing the ukulele, Zoe can play the saxophone and enjoys ballet and lyrical tap dancing. She has also attended musical theatre school, which she described as 'awesome' because it helped her discover her passion for becoming a West End actress in the future. Zoe shared that being on stage with well-known personalities like Aled Jones, Rev Kate Bottley, and Neil Taylor was a thrilling experience. She felt like a professional, especially with two recordings made during the event. Zoe was happy for all the other contestants and said the experience was amazing for everyone involved. Despite the pressure, Zoe encouraged other young singers to apply for the competition. She said it did not feel like a competition because everyone was relaxed and supportive. Zoe found the process easy and was surprised and elated when she was selected. She believes the competition is a great way to inspire young singers to pursue choral music. The final of BBC Young Chorister Of The Year 2025 was a special event that celebrated the talents of young singers like Zoe, giving them a platform to shine and share their love of music with a wider audience.