A schoolgirl has competed against 9,000 other hopefuls to win through the area finals of a national singing competition.

Tora Lambie, 13, of Southen Road in Woodford Green, is down to the final 23 in her category, under-16s, and is now one performance away from performing in the grand final of Open Mic UK 2013 at the O2 arena.

Open Mic UK is a singing competition which provides competitors with the opportunity to perform in front of industry experts, record labels, agencies and the national press including BBC Radio and KISS FM.

Mother Lizzie Lambie, 34, has praised her daughter for her maturity in the face of a highly competitive industry.

She said: “I have always battled with the issue of whether she might be too young, but I have always told her education comes first.

“If her education suffered at all the singing would have to take a back seat.

“Tora has been doing performing arts since the age of four so we felt she was ready to sign up for the competition.

“She has been praised for having a very mature voice beyond her years and she has love and passion behind her all the way.”

Open Mic UK is the creation of Future Music, the company behind the development of artists such as Birdy, Jahmene Douglas and X Factor’s Lucy Spraggan.

Events Coordinator and Head of Future Music, Chris Grayston, said: “For promising singers, song-writers, rappers and vocalists, Open Mic UK provides a real opportunity to open the door
to a music career by showcasing their talent to music industry professionals and audiences across the country.”

The area finals will be held on November 24 at the Beck Theatre, Middlesex, followed by the grand final at the O2 arena on January 18.