South Canterbury singer Sophie Hogg has hit the high notes of a national title.
The 18-year-old was named the PACANZ (Performing Arts Competitions Association of New Zealand) National Musical Theatre Young Performer of the Year at the finals concert in Palmerston North at the weekend.
She clinched the national title with her song from the musical Funny Girl, playing the character Fanny Bryce and singing, Don’t Rain on My Parade.
To compete in the event, competitors had to have placed in their regional competitions around New Zealand and be nominated by them.
Sophie won the musical theatre young performer of the year award in Christchurch earlier this year to earn her place as the region’s nominee for the national competition.
The round started with the top 25 young New Zealand performers having to present two contrasting musical theatre songs which needed to showcase singing, acting and dancing (triple-threat ability) and one of them had to include ‘‘in character’’ dialogue either directly from a musical or devised by the performer.
Sophie’s first performance on day 1 was Little Girls, played as Miss Hannigan from the musical Annie, followed by Don’t Rain on My Parade later that afternoon.
The competition was judged on those two performances, plus participation in a master class on the second day with an adjudicator, during which dance and other musical theatre challenges were thrown at them to see how they would cope, in order to sift out competitors for the semifinal.
Sophie made it to the semifinals of six competitors, then on to the final round with just three.
Mum Tamara Hogg said the final note in Sophie’s winning song lasted for 24 seconds, at the end of which she brought the house down in the 1500-seater Regent Theatre.
‘‘The audience took a breath to comprehend the amazing thing that had just happened and then erupted with cheers and screams. It was amazing and a moment I’ll never forget.’’
As well as the title, Sophie went home with $5000 in prize money.
Sophie will perform her winning song at the Craighead Music Cup singing evening tonight (Thursday) at 7pm along with other budding junior and senior performers. Entry is a gold coin donation.
