Teenage opera singer's record deal dream
Matthew SparkesA teenage opera singer is hoping to bag a record deal by beating aspiring rappers and pop stars to first place in a national talent competition.At just 15 years old, Callum Bicknell from Thelveton, near Diss, has made it to the regional finals of the Open Mic UK talent competition.Matthew Sparkes
A teenage opera singer is hoping to bag a record deal by beating aspiring rappers and pop stars to first place in a national talent competition.
At just 15 years old, Callum Bicknell from Thelveton, near Diss, has made it to the regional finals of the Open Mic UK talent competition.
If he goes through to the final and takes first place he will get the chance to record and release his first single.
But while the competition could be his big break, it will be far from Callum's first appearance on stage.
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Since joining a school choir at just four years old, he has gone on to sing with the Norfolk Youth Music Theatre and the Norfolk and Norwich Operatic Society.
He has also played the lead role in two sell-out performances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
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Callum said: 'My ambition is to become a professional performer but at the moment I am fitting this all in around school activities and preparing for my GCSEs.'
During the day Callum attends Norwich School, but studies singing in his spare time with UEA lecturer Jeffrey Davis.
Mother Margaret Bicknell, 49, said that she suspects the competition will have a 'pop slant' but that it is still a vital chance for Callum to show what he can do.
'It will be interesting to see how he's received.'
'It's very difficult to know what the judges are going to be looking for,' she said.
'He lives for the stage and for performing, if he's not doing it he gets very depressed.'
Callum is set to perform live at the regional finals on November 1 at the Corn Exchange, Bedford.
The last round of the competition takes place on November 28 in Portsmouth, and Callum will make an appearance if he is successful earlier in the month.
