Meet the City’s Search for a Star winners

The seven winners were carefully selected following multiple auditions and will all perform at the City’s blockbuster Symphony Under the Stars event at Kingsway Regional Sporting Complex on 22 February.

The winners range in age as well as musical experience, with each of the local talents being either residents or students within the City.

The unique experience to perform with a 70-piece orchestra will be matched by the impressive crowds, with the event drawing 12,000 people last time it was held at Kingsway.

Sofia Gale Performing Skyfall by Adele

At just 16 years old, Sofia’s musical experience is impressive, having already performed in front of nearly 12,000 people at RAC Arena.

A student of the Gail Meade Performing Arts Centre in Wangara for over 12 years, Sofia has a mix of singing, songwriting and theatre experience.

“I've always been a theatre kid at heart,” she said. “But, around 11 or 12, I found a love for songwriting – not only was it therapeutic, but it was a release for me.”

Sofia has released four singles to date, with one of her tracks winning a West Australian Music song of the year award, with her music drawing comparisons to Birdy and Olivia Rodrigo.

Sofia will now further her career accomplishments by performing alongside a live orchestra for the first time.

“What a phenomenal opportunity it is, to give local performers and local singers the chance to perform with such an orchestra,” she said.

“We've already started rehearsals now and even when I'm not rehearsing with them, I'm just listening to them play so beautifully. I feel so honoured to be a part of this.”

Meagen Reyes Performing I Will Always Love You & I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston

Coming from a family of musicians, Meagen will be living out a dream on behalf of her parents and siblings when she takes the stage.

The youngest of five children, the 28-year-old started her musical career as just two years old, joining her family band.

“All of my siblings were taught how to sing by my mum, my dad knows how to sing as well and plays the guitar,” she said.

“At the age of around two or three I was already singing on stage, not knowing how to read but memorising songs just by listening to them.”

Meagen said she jumped at the opportunity to enter the competition and play with a live orchestra.

“I was chosen as one of the winners and that was such a relief, because I really wanted to sing with the orchestra, as a singer it’s such a different experience,” she said.

“I’ve sung for live bands and with backing tracks, but a live orchestra is so different because it’s a full ensemble. They’re relying on you to sing it correctly.”

Meagen said the competition was a great opportunity to springboard the singing careers of younger artists, but also provided a rare opportunity for more experienced local artists.

“Having an event like Search for a Star Wanneroo is such a good opportunity for talents everywhere in Perth, not just young talents but even people like me being nearly 30,” she said.

“It’s great that I still have the chance to do things like this within the City.”

Krystal Biddulph Performing Fix You by Coldplay

An experienced dancer, performing since age three, Krystal has put one of her passions to the side after 15 years to pursue a career in singing.

The talented singer has a gained a growing following thanks to nearly three years busking around the Perth CBD which she continues to do.

“I’m very excited about Symphony Under the Stars, obviously, there would have been a lot of amazing applicants,” she said.

Krystal is no stranger to playing in front of a big crowd, having performed at RAC Arena in front of 14,000 during a Wildcats game last year as well as featuring on Australian Idol.

“I’m most excited for singing in front of an orchestra, it’s something that I’ve never done before but something I want to do,” the 18-year-old said.

“Everything sounds better with an orchestra, even rehearsing with them I have the best time, it just makes me even more excited to get on stage and perform in front of people with them.”

Caoimhe Power Performing Stop by Spice Girls & Shallow by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper

Caoimhe’s singing journey started in Scotland at age nine before moving to WA with her family, immediately joining her high school music program.

The Banksia Grove resident said she was stunned when she learned she was one of the winners.

“When I got the email about being one of the winners I was in complete shock, I was so happy, so excited and so grateful, because I knew there were so many amazing competitors,” she said.

“I felt so honoured that I was one of the winners picked to be able to sing and do what I love – it was honestly amazing.”

At the age of just 16, Caoimhe will take the stage along with four other winners in a group performance, as well as a duo with last year’s Search for a Star winner Kade De Luca.  

“I’m so excited to be able to perform in front of so many people,” she said.

“It is just so crazy that I was chosen to sing with a 70-piece orchestra.

“It’s amazing that we get to take part in this huge opportunity right at our doorstep and I think it’s great that we get to perform with people similar to our age and with the same love for music.”

Tegan Mumba Performing Stop by Spice Girls

Tegan has been singing since the age of four and notably performed at the RAC Arena in 2019 for Grease the Musical aged just 10.

The 16-year-old said she is looking forward to recreating the thrill on stage alongside the Joondalup Symphony Orchestra.

“When I found out I was a winner I was so excited, I called my dance teacher right away and told my mum,” the Yanchep local said.

“I’m super excited to perform in front of all these people. Knowing that my singing could make someone’s day makes me even more excited.

“I think the competition is a great opportunity for so many kids to be able to get their names out there. People will have all their eyes on us and I think it’s great for many aspiring teens.”

Jade Alexander Performing Stop by Spice Girls

Jade is a recent addition to the City, having immigrated from South Africa just a year ago.

With extensive musical experience in her homeland often entering singing competitions, Jade had no hesitation in applying for the City’s Search for a Star. 

“In South Africa I entered a lot of singing competitions and then when we moved here, I got the opportunity to do some gigs,” the 16-year-old said.

“My mum found this competition and she saw how big of an opportunity it was to enter, and we grabbed it with both hands.

“I’m so excited and I still can’t believe it. It’s one of my bucket list items to perform with an orchestra, so being able to do it is surreal.

“We’ve done two rehearsals with the orchestra. It’s so cool to be able to hear the instruments live and the whole orchestra really creates an atmosphere.”

Emily Mackenzie Performing Stop by Spice Girls

Emily is a multi-talented local artist who started her performing arts journey at age eight when she started doing theatre shows.

That path led her to performing in The Boy from Oz at Crown Theatre, with her first theatre appearance happening at age eight.

The 18-year-old Hocking local also plays piano and guitar and said she holds a real appreciation for the talented Joondalup Symphony Orchestra.

“I’m pretty excited to go in front of such a big audience,” she said.

“I think it’s just a really great opportunity to get more experience to do more shows like this in the future. 

“I haven’t performed with an orchestra before, but I love live music. The live orchestra feels more alive, rather than just a speaker and to have so many people making the music is a pretty cool thing.”