TWO singers have lit up a competition organised by Dunbar’s Christmas lights team.
Alicia Avezzano-Bowes, 28, and 13-year-old Abby Cowan were the winners of Dunbar’s Got Talent.
The competition, which was open to singers, poets and anyone else with a special talent, was designed to boost the money available for the town’s Christmas lights; members of the lights team had the job of picking out two winners.
Craig Rapson, who has been a member of the Christmas lights committee for about seven years, took a step back from judging after a member of his family entered.
He congratulated Alicia, who performed John Legend’s All of Me.
Votes were cast via messaging service WhatsApp, and Craig said comments included “best performance”, “best voice” and “strong voice and performance”.
Alicia won the adult section and received £75; she will also have the chance to feature on the town’s SEScot radio.
The former Dunbar Grammar pupil said it was “a lovely feeling to win something I was doing to support the community” and said: “I have been singing since I was very little.
“My mum, who is very musical, taught me to sing and perform. I sang in most school shows and performed at a few open mic gigs here and there.
“I once performed at Fringe by the Sea when I was a teen but it didn’t go too well as I was so nervous.”
Meanwhile, Abby, an S2 at Dunbar Grammar, sang Believer by Imagine Dragons while also playing acoustic guitar.
She received £25 and will also feature on the radio station as the under-16 section winner.
Proud dad Derek said Abby, who also plays the drums and attends Dunbar Music School, was largely self-taught on the guitar and added he could “sit and listen to her for hours”.
He added: “She was not very confident in herself and music, although she has got a fantastic talent.
“She took a bit of cajoling to enter the competition but she is over the moon at winning.”
Craig congratulated Abby and said comments from the judges included “great interpretation of the song”, “self-assured performance on vocals and guitar” and “a real sweet voice”.
Support the Christmas lights at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/dunbarchristmas-lights
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