BBC Young Chorister 'so excited' to be in final

Zoe has been singing from a young age but became involved in choral music when she started school at Methodist College Belfast

A young singer from Belfast said she was "so excited" to compete in the finalist for BBC Young Chorister of the Year.

Zoe, 12, from Belfast was up against Thomas from Buckinghamshire and Leo from London in the final, which aired on Sunday, with Leo taking home the top prize.

In the final, Zoe sang The Lord bless you and keep you by John Rutter, following on from her performance of Benjamin Britten's The Brids in the semi-final.

Speaking ahead of the final's airing, she said performing for the judges - including choirmaster Gareth Malone, singer and vocal coach Michelle John and conductor and choral director Harry Bradford - was a "big day".

The BBC Young Chorister of the Year was broadcasted from the Hallé St Peter's in Manchester

After Zoe's final performance, presenter Aled Jones described her rendition as "fantastic".

Judge Harry Bradford said Zoe had "such an easy ability to connect with the audience".

Michelle John said she told the "story, the spirit of the song so well", while Gareth Malone described her as "such an exciting singer".

'An amazing opportunity'

Zoe has been singing from a young age but became involved in choral music when she started school at Methodist College, Belfast.

She said she was "thrilled" to be selected for the competition.

"It was such an amazing opportunity, I didn't think that I would have been selected among hundreds of other contestants across the UK."

She added: "It's a blessing, so I just feel like really talking to the audience in the finals and sort of touching them, moving them in a way."

For the final Zoe will be singing The Lord bless you and keep you by John Rutter

Speaking to presenter Rev Kate Bottley during the semi-final episode, Zoe said singing is her "biggest joy".

She comes from a musical household, with her dad playing guitar and her sister playing piano.

Zoe and her family moved to New Zealand when she was five years old. There, she joined a ukulele club.

Along with the ukulele, Zoe can play the saxophone and enjoys ballet and lyrical tap dancing.

She has attended musical theatre school. Speaking of the school, Zoe said: "It was awesome because that is where I gained my passion to be a West End actress when I grow up."

'I was elated'

"It was a thrilling experience just being on stage with Aled and the Rev Kate Bottley and Neil Taylor, and being having two recordings, it just felt like we were all little professionals.

"They are such renowned people on such a prestigious stage in Hallé St Peter's. I'm just so happy for all the other contestants that made it. And it was an amazing experience for all of us."

Despite the pressure, Zoe said she would recommend other singers to sign up for the competition.

"It almost didn't feel like a competition. It was all really just chilled out, relaxed," Zoe said.

"It was just a brilliant way to encourage the young singers that want to sing choral music to apply for the competition.

"I didn't personally think I would get in but it was still worth a shot, because the process was so easy, and then I got in. It took me by surprise, I was elated."

The final of BBC Young Chorister Of The Year 2025 is available on iPlayer.