Maria wins Festival Factor 2011
Festival Place, announced the winner of its Festival Factor competition today. It is local 12 year-old Maria Christina Ricafort who is taking home the crown and walking away with the opportunity to record in a studio, a £50 Festival Place Gift Card, £50 Dawsons Music Giftcard, a £50 Newbury Building Society Giftcard and two tickets to the Basingstoke Variety Show.
Maria performed Adele’s chart-topping ‘Someone Like You’ and will now go on to sing at The Basingstoke Variety Show as well as the Festival Place Christmas light switch on.
The public have been voting for their favourite singer since the judges shortlisted the final performers on Sunday 28 August. Maria was one of three performers to go through to the public vote.
Maria Christina Ricafort said: “I am over the moon! Thank you to everyone who voted for me.
“I have always wanted to sing; I am always singing at home which annoys my mum so much!”
Claire Holmes, who runs Clives Music School in Basingstoke was one of the judges on the panel, she said: “When the competition began in the summer we saw over 50 people audition at Festival Place so Maria should feel very proud of herself that she has won.”
Theresa Chapman, Events Manager at Festival Place, said: “Everyone here is delighted for Maria and her family. To win at such a young age is a huge achievement.”
