Friday, July 20, 2012

Urban Quest finalists shine on The X Factor Australia

Two finalists from Mission Australia’s Urban Quest are through to the next season of The X Factor Australia.

Singers Shiane Hawke, 14, and Peter Rautoka, 19, are the first Territorians to make it through to the TV auditions for  popular Channel 7 program.

Shiane, who sang Duffy’s Mercy, left X Factor judges speechless at the TV audition -  the same song which earned her a Mark Holden seal of approval at the 2011 Urban Quest finals concert.

This year, the Dripstone Middle School student was second runner-up at the Mission Australia finals event.

Peter Rautoka also received Holden’s trademark touchdown at the 2011 Urban Quest finals concert with his rendition of Hallelujah.

The young Territory hopefuls, who auditioned at Darwin and Cairns earlier this year, were flown to the Gold Coast for the TV auditions earlier this month.

“It was an amazing experience,” Mr Rautoka said.

“It was pretty scary singing in front of the four judges - Mel B, Guy Sebastian, Ronan Keating and Natalie Bassingthwaighte - and about four thousand people, but it’s given me a whole new confidence in myself and my singing.”

NT Mission Australia Operations Manager Jillian Smith said she was very proud to see the Urban Quest finalists doing well on the big stage.

“Mission Australia is very proud to have seen these talented young singers shine at Urban Quest, and continue to grow and follow their dreams,” Ms Smith said.

“Urban Quest is a celebration of young people, which aims to improve confidence through music. Hopefully the mentoring they both received from Mark Holden helped them believe in themselves and realise their true potential.

“I encourage everyone to support Shiane and Peter on their X Factor journey.”

Territorians will have to wait and see if the young Territorians make it past The X Factor Bootcamp in Sydney and onto the live TV show.

The next season of X Factor airs on Channel 7 in the coming months.

A sneak peek of Shiane’s TV audition can be seen here: http://au.tv.yahoo.com/x-factor/video/-/watch/30023977/sneak-peek-is-shiane-next/