A talented Lowestoft singer has successfully reached the final of a national competition – and next month she will be aiming for the top.

Jazmine Banks, 16, hit the high notes in reaching the final of Open Mic UK – a national singing contest, which will be held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham next year.

The teenage student at the Access to Music College in Norwich entered the competition with 12,000 singers, singer-songwriters and rappers.

She progressed through to the semi finals that were also held in the NEC last month with her performance of Katy Perry's Unconditionally – which received high praise from the judges consisting of record producers, record labels and radio DJs.

The former Benjamin Britten High School student said: 'This opportunity is a great experience and I never thought I would get this far.

'My friend took part a few years ago and its a great way of performing outside of Lowestoft and getting more people to hear me sing.

'The NEC is a massive venue and it feels brilliant to say I've performed in that space.'

Jazmine will take part in the over-16 category, with each age sub-category having a winner before an overall winner is chosen during the final on January 23.

The winning prize is £5,000 worth of advanced studio recording time and singing lessons at some of the country's top facilities.

Notable previous winners include female singer-songwriter Birdy, who has gone on to have great success within the music industry with a Gold status album in the UK.

Jazmine added: 'I am excited and it will be good to perform to a wider range of people, the bigger the better! My vocal coach Lloyd Wade and I haven't decided on a song for the final yet, but it will be something that stands out.'

To hear some of Jazmine's songs, visit: www.youtube.com/user/jazminehoneybanks

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