MILLY Forrest, the 2014 winner of the Hart Male Voice Choir young singer competition, has won national acclaim for her ‘stand-in’ performance at London’s prestigious Wigmore Hall.

Wigmore Hall usher Milly wowed her audience and opera critics when she recently stepped in for a professional soprano who was taken ill and was unable to perform.

Milly, a 23-year-old music student who regularly works evenings at Britain’s leading chamber music venue, is now being seen as a future star after she successfully took to the stage at the last minute.

Performing ensemble works by Franz Schubert and Ralph Vaughan Williams, Milly enthralled the audience with her “exquisite performance” and received rave reviews in the media.

One national newspaper critic described her performance as “breathtaking”, with a voice that “floated heavenwards”.

Milly who is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music from West London says that her life’s ambition has always been “to sing at one of the big opera house stages”.

After her one night of success on stage at Wigmore Hall, Milly will be returning to her role as an usher in September to help support her music studies.

In the meantime Odiham-based Hart MVC is now recruiting for other prospective stars for the 2018 Young Singer Competition.

Young singers aged 10 to 19 years in Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire will be invited to apply for auditions planned for early 2018.

Finalists will be given the opportunity to perform with Hart MVC to a public audience in April 2018 at a Gala Concert where cash prizes and winner’s certificates will be presented to the winners.

Young singers and music teachers are invited to apply or request more information and an application. Call Peter Newman on 01252 614151 or email [email protected].