Breeze has Talent 2019 winner set to light up Leeds this Christmas
17 year-old
Sophie Littlejohns has been crowned winner of this year’s Breeze has Talent competition at an event showcasing Leeds’ most talented young performers.
The final of this year’s competition was hosted by radio presenter and former Leeds United FC player, Sanchez Payne, at Northern Ballet’s Stanley and Audrey Burton theatre on Sunday.
Now in its twelfth year, Breeze has Talent has given almost 1,000 children and young people in Leeds the chance to shine and, for many winners, a stepping stone to greater things. Leeds City Council’s Breeze team, organiser of the annual competition, is regularly contacted by national TV talent shows which is testimony to the quality of the young talent coming through and the profile Leeds is building through the work of a range of local organisations dedicated to supporting young performers who live in the city.
Sunday’s final was the culmination of Breeze has Talent 2019, which started in June with auditions at the White Rose Centre, followed by heats at the Big Breeze fest at Temple Newsam.
Judges Henna Angus from, Paramount Music, Isaac Heywood from Rock School, Sheila Howarth from West Indian Carnival Committee, and Amy Smith from DAZL, had the very hard task of choosing the winner.
Sophie Littlejohns impressed the judges by singing her own composition, ‘I wanna know’. She will go on to perform at the Leeds Lights Switch On which takes place on Thursday 7 November on Victoria Gardens in the city centre. All of the finalists will perform at local Christmas lights switch on events across the city.
Following her win, Sophie said:
“I feel really honoured to have won Breeze has Talent with an original song. It was made extra special because this will be the last year I am able to compete.
“The effort that was put into the event, including the fantastic boot camps, was amazing. It is a fantastic event that keeps growing, and I hope it continues to.
“The Breeze team has been so encouraging and supportive, and I would like to thank them all.”
Councillor Salma Arif, deputy executive member for children and families, said:
“I was blown away by the talent at this year’s Breeze has Talent final. Well done to all the young people who performed, and congratulations of course to Sophie on winning the competition. Her performance was stunning, and the fact she wrote the song herself is so impressive.
“It’s great that so many young people living in Leeds take part in the competition every year. We see lots of extremely talented young performers return, even more determined and even more brilliant. Their energy and dedication is truly inspiring.”
Breeze has Talent forms part of Leeds City Council’s annual Breeze summer programme. Breeze provides a range of positive opportunities for children and young people age 0—19 and their families living in Leeds. For more information go to
https://breezeleeds.org/
Breeze Has Talent winner Sophie Littlejohns can be found online at: https://youtu.be/uVAqsZekGDc
About Breeze Has Talent
Now in its 12th year,
Breeze has Talent is a talent competition for young people aged between 8 – 18. We have had some fantastic young people come through the competition. It has been our privilege to see many of them stretch and develop their talents and move on to stages around the world. Everyone who has entered has conquered the stage and entertained the crowds. Breeze has Talent has also become a regular point of call for the organisers of
Britain’s Got Talent,
The X Factor and now
The Voice Kids UK who all check out our youtube videos and contact us for our talent tips.
Our aim is to provide a nurturing environment for those young people who enter the competition. Although there are only three prizes our aim is for everyone who enters to feel like a winner. Throughout the competition our judges are on hand to encourage and guide and, between the judges and the Breeze team, we know where to go in Leeds to find additional support in your chosen art form. Breeze Has Talent finalist also attend ‘boot camp’ to help polish their performance for the Breeze Has Talent Finals night.
Competitions are a really good way of focusing on your performance but we also offer lots of out of competition performance opportunities at our Breeze on Tour and Mini Breeze events, as well as workshops at Breeze on Tour from Rock School, Street Dance and Music Production - so just join in and have fun.
About the Competition
Important dates for the 2019 competition!
Please note applications have closed and auditions have been completed.
Auditions - Saturday 15th June at the White Rose Centre
Heats - Wednesday/Thursday 31st July and 1st August at Breeze Fest Temple Newsam
Finals - The Northern Ballet Theatre on Sunday October 13th
- lucky for some!
The Prizes
What are the prizes? The winner of Breeze has Talent will perform live on stage at the Leeds Christmas Lights switch on! The winners will also receive prizes worth £300* - the 2nd Place act will receive prizes worth £200* - and the 3rd Place act will receive prizes worth £100*.
The Auditions and Heats
A panel of expert judges will select the acts from the first open auditions at White Rose Centre. These acts then move to the next stage and perform at the heats which will take place this year on 31 July and 1st of August at Breeze Fest in Temple Newsam. Again the acts will be judged and scored on originality, stage presence and technique. Our finalists are announced and they will perform in the finals at The Stanley and Audrey Burton Theatre at The Northern Ballet Building on the 13 October 2019.
Please remember: the aim of Breeze has Talent is to offer young performers the chance to develop skills and confidence by taking part in a friendly competition that we hope is fun but also challenging – it isn’t just about winning, it’s about meeting other performers and having a great time on the way!
2019 Winners
Our
Breeze Has Talent Finals took place on 13th October at the
Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, what a great night!

First - Vocalist - Sophie Littlejohns

Second -
Vocalist - Hannah CJ Carter


Joint Third - Vocalist/pianist - Shay Lily and Vocalist - Charlie Atkinson
Although there are only three prizes our aim is for everyone who enters to feel like a winner!
2019 Finalists: Guitar/vocalist - Abigail King
, Vocalist
- Georgia Caslin, Guitar vocalist - Men In Glass Houses
Mollie Coddled,
Vocalist - Charika
, Vocalist - Philomena Chege
, Vocalist/pianist - Shay Lily, Vocalist - Sophie Littlejohns,
Vocalist
- Miri Westerman, Vocalist - Charlie Atkinson
, Dance - Step 4
, Vocalist - Hannah CJ Carter.
2018 Winners
Our
Breeze Has Talent Finals took place on Sunday 7th October at the
Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, what a great night!

First - Classical singer Frankie Bounds

Second -
Singer Kirpa Suwali

Third - Singer Shay Lily
Although there are only three prizes our aim is for everyone who enters to feel like a winner!
2018 Finalists: Singer/songwriter/pianist Danny Kelly, Singer Megan Anastazja, Singer Georgia Caslin, Classical singer Frankie Bounds, Singer Ava Bounds, Singer Philomena Chege, Singer Shay Lily,
Singer Jessica May Frost, Majorette/Gymnast Demi Lloyd, Singer Kirpa Suwali, Singer Will McPherson, Dancers Dance Divas.
2017 Winners
Our
Breeze Has Talent Finals took place on Sunday 29th October at the
Carriageworks Theatre, a truly star filled night!

First - singer/guitarist
Ella
Playford -
YouTube |
YouTube |
Instagram


Joint Second - singers
Fabienne Clarke and Emeli Mumford


Joint Third - majorette/gymnast
Demi Lloyd and singer
Sophie Littlejohns
Although there are only three prizes our aim is for everyone to have a good experience!
2017 Finalists: Musician
Alvie O’Brien, Majorette/gymnast
Demi Lloyd, Singer/guitarist
Ella Playford, Singer
Emeli Mumford, Singer
Fabienne Clarke, Grace Fakes, Singer
Helen Collier, Dancer
Isaac Bridge, Singer
Jessica May Frost, Singer
John Scholey, Singer/songwriter/pianist
Shay Lily, Singer
Sophie Littlejohns.
2016 Winners
First - Singer/rapper, Cole Lawton-Challenger
-
Facebook |YouTube |YouTube |
Instagram

Second - Vocal singer,
Millie Cranston

Third - Dancer,
Hermione O'Hara
Although there are only three prizes our aim is for everyone who enters to feel like a winner!
2016 Finalists: Singer
Tionne Pringle, Band
Rat Bag!, Singer
Fabienne Clarke, Girl Group
4 Simones, Singer/Guitarist
Becky Holmes, Singer/Rapper
Cole Lawton-Challenger, Band
Dead Fairy, Band
Sounds Like A Storm, Vocal Singer
Millie Cranston, Dancer
Hermione O'Hara.
2015 Winners
First -
The Richards
Second -
The Caroline Atha School of Dance
Third -
Princess
Although there are only three prizes our aim is for everyone to have a good experience!
2015 Finalists: Terrority, Ava Bounds, Rochelle Soares, Becky Holmes, Tionne Pringle, Jessica Frost, Princess, Owen Spafford, Lucia Henry, CASOD, LeAndre West, The Richards, Ellie Holmes.
2014 Winners
First -
George Hodgson
Second -
TREE
Third -
Jessica Frost
Although there are only three prizes our aim is for everyone who enters to feel like a winner!
2014 Finalists: LeAndre' West, Junior Frood, Jessica Frost, TREE, Ewan McCaig-Holt, George Hodgson, Punjabi Roots Academy, Kieron Moore, Fabian Richards, Kyrome Richards.