IN what could possibly be a sign of good things to come, four Nelson Mandela Bay performers – and not three as initially planned – have advanced to the next stage of the popular reality TV talent contest, Idols.
The four were chosen from more than 100 hopefuls who auditioned at the Boardwalk's amphitheatre last week.
Idols made a brief stop in the Bay after Algoa FM convinced producers to host auditions after the Friendly City was skipped last season.
Now, Christina Williams, 20, Thuba Myeki, 22, Edward Allen, 26, and Amanda Antony, 19, will travel to Johannesburg for the next stage of the show, which is now in its ninth season.
They will be hoping to do even better than Port Elizabeth singer Melissa Allison, who finished second last year.
Allen, a soft rock artist, has been singing for about nine years and has performed in London. "I sang my own composition and the judges were so impressed with me," he said of the audition.
Antony, a second-year Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University music student, made the cut by chance.
"I was not intending to audition for Idols. I was just accompanying a friend when I decided to try my luck. I impressed the judges with Adele's song Don't You Remember," she said. "I have always loved singing and I am glad that I have been given a chance to showcase my talent."
Williams, a full-time singer who performs outside News Cafe at the Boardwalk, said her mother convinced her to try out. "My mom felt that Idols was brought to PE especially for me.
"I sang Hopelessly Devoted to You by Olivia Newton-John. The judges said I have a voice and I put a lot of feeling in my songs," she said.
"At the time my heart was racing but I prayed to God to give me the chance to go through to the second round.
"I am super excited to be representing PE."
Myeki, who has performed with Gino Fabbri and Centrestage, was not available for comment.
M-Net head of communications Lani Lombard, who was on the judging panel that chose the final four, said they were impressed with the talent in Port Elizabeth.
