A 13-year-old girl from Woodford Green has made it through to the area finals of a national music competition after wowing judges with her audition.

Ilford Recorder: Tora Lambie performed a 'mash-up' of Holy Grail and Fame at the Open Mic UK auditions held at Dingwalls in Camden.Tora Lambie performed a 'mash-up' of Holy Grail and Fame at the Open Mic UK auditions held at Dingwalls in Camden. (Image: Copyright: Arron Leppard)

Tora Lambie, of Woodbridge High School in St Barnabas Road, Woodford Green, performed a “mash-up” of Holy Grail, by Jay Z and Justin Timberlake, and Fame, by Irene Cara, at the regional finals of Open Mic UK on October 13.

Ilford Recorder: Tora Lambie said her nerves clear when she steps on stageTora Lambie said her nerves clear when she steps on stage (Image: Copyright: Arron Leppard)

She will now sing in front of hundreds of people and a music industry judging panel at the under-16 London & East final on November 24.

Tora, who also attends the Carmel Thomas Performing Arts School in Buckhurst Hill, says she has always wanted a career in show business.

She said: “I like singing a lot. I watch singers perform and I want to do it.

“My favourite singers are Beyonce, Alicia Keys and Justin Timberlake.”

Should she get through the area finals, Tora will perform at the grand final at the O2 Arena in January, where a cash prize of £5,000 awaits the winner.

Entering the competition has gone some way towards fulfilling Tora’s dream of one day performing at the Grammys.

She added: “I get a bit scared and nervous before I perform, but not once I get on stage.”

At the auditions, held at Dingwalls in Camden, judges labelled Tora’s performance “controlled, mature and very committed”, to the delight of the 38 family members who watched on.

Tora’s mother, Lizzy said: “We’re so proud of Tora and how she has grown in music.

“She has put a lot of hard work into her performances and coupled with her love of music, it’s really paying off.”

As well as the cash prize, the winner of the competition will receive publicity and a development package which focuses on social marketing, image and brand, and provides industry contacts.

Chris Grayston, head of Future Music, the competition organisers, said: “For promising singers, songwriters, rappers and vocalists, Open Mic UK provides a real opportunity to open the door to a music career.”