Tough call at Urban Quest semi finals

Eleven acts are through to the Urban Quest Finals Concert on Saturday night after the judges struggled to choose just ten.

Former Australian Idol judge Mark Holden delivered three touch downs through the 20 performances including opening rock duo Jack and Sam Weaver.

More than 1000 people turned out to support the young performers, aged between 11 and 18, at Casuarina Square.

The youngest finalist Kaiyah Chadwick, who’s in Year 6 at Marrara Christian College, wowed the audience with her rendition of Halleluja without backing music, while beatboxer Kane Bishop reverberated through the crowd.

Mark Holden will now work with the young singers in mentoring workshops to polish their performances ahead of the big night.

“It’s fantastic being up here,” Mark Holden said.

“But what I really looking forward to is working with each of the finalists and improving their performance.”

Urban Quest, organised by Mission Australia, hopes to raise awareness of youth homelessness in the Top End and expand homeless accommodation services.

In the Territory, up to 5000 people are homeless and more than one quarter are young people aged between 12 and 18 years.

The Urban Quest Finals Concert, which includes a performance by Deni Hines, starts at 7pm at the Darwin Entertainment Centre this Saturday, 2 April.

Tickets cost $17.50 per person or $50 per family of four, with all proceeds supporting Mission Australia to develop homeless services for young Territorians.  

The 11 Urban Quest Finalists are:

 

Kaiyah Chadwich, 11, Leanyer                   

Peter Rautoke, 17, Palmerston

Casey Glennon, 16, Malak                           

Shaine Hawke, 13, Stuart Park

Gabrielle Wright, 16, Palmerston             

Jianynne Anastacio, 16, Katherine

Tevita Moala, 16, Darwin                             

Kane Bishop, 15, Darwin

Leighton Kay-Mick, 13, Karama                 

John Micairan, 18 Palmerston & Flyod McDonald, 18, Karama

Sam & Jack Weaver, 17 & 14, Wagaman

 

For more on each of the performers visit facebook.com/MissionAust. To purchase tickets to the Urban Quest Finals Concert visit www.darwinentertainment.com.au.

 

Teens to battle for a Mark Holden 'touch down'

Twenty teens as young as eleven will battle for a top ten finish at the Urban Quest semi final at Casuarina Square next week.

The singers hope to impress guest judge Mark Holden and local celebrity radio host Amanda Pernechele for a spot in the Urban Quest Finals Concert on 2 April.

The acts include a brother duo from Wagaman, Palmerston hip hop pair and four singers from Katherine.

The event, sponsored by Mission Australia, hopes to raise awareness of youth homelessness in the Top End.

The Urban Quest semi final gets underway at 3:30pm at Casuarina Square on Tuesday, 29 March. The public are encouraged to attend.

The semi finalists are:

Kaiyah Chadwich, 11, Leanyer 

Peter Rautoke, 17, Palmerston

Casey Glennon, 16, Malak                           

Shaine Hawke, 13, Stuart Park

Taylor Fishlock, 18, Katherine                    

Rebekah Ainslie, 16, Darwin

Kimberly Harding, 16 Darwin                      

Jason Woodward, 15, Palmerston

Gabrielle Wright, 16, Palmerston             

Jianynne Anastacio, 16, Katherine

Tevita Moala, 16, Darwin                             

Kane Bishop, 15, Darwin

Veronica Maxwell, 17, Palmerston          

Jessica Pickworth, 18, Litchfield Park

Leighton Kay-Mick, 13, Karama                 

Katheryn Pickworth, 18, Stuart Park
Holly Mannion, Katherine
Jehrome Reyes, Katherine

John Micairan, 18 Palmerston & Flyod McDonald, 18, Karama

Sam & Jack Weaver, 17 & 14, Wagaman

For more on each of the performers visit facebook.com/MissionAust.

Singers will battle to help the homeless

Mark Holden and Deni Hines will touch down in the Top End in a bid to get a roof over homeless young people’s heads in Darwin and Palmerston.

The Australian pop idols will be in town to guest judge Mission Australia’s Urban Quest, a fundraising talent competition that aims to increase awareness about local youth homelessness. 

Holden and Hines will team up with local celebrity radio host Amanda Pernechele to judge the finals concert on 2 April at the Darwin Entertainment Centre.  

Mission Australia Operations Manager Brad McIver said the event will address an emerging problem in Darwin and Palmerston.

“The majority of young homeless people are fending for themselves and sleep out in improvised dwellings or shack in with friends, acquaintances and really anywhere they can,” Mr McIver said.

“Urban Quest will help generate funds to support the development of accommodation for them through event participation, public donation and finals concert tickets.”

In the Territory, up to 5000 people are homeless and more than one quarter are young people aged between 12 and 18 years.

Urban Quest is open to solo acts and groups aged between 10 and 19 years across vocal, street, rap and beatboxing categories. 

Heats will be held at schools in Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine and the Tiwi Islands with Mark Holden to judge the semi finals at Casuarina Square on 29 March.

Ten acts will go through to the finals concert and experience a workshop with Holden ahead of the big night at the Darwin Entertainment Centre on 2 April. 

The concert opens National Youth Week in Darwin and includes a guest performance by Deni Hines.

Competition details:

·         Entry closes 1 March

·         Heats at Tiwi Island College on 9 March

Maningrida Community 11 March

Darwin High School, Sanderson Middle School, Palmerston Library and Katherine High School on 9 March at 3:30pm

Malak Theatre, Palmerston Library and Browns Mart Theatre on 19 March at 2pm

·         Semi finals at Casuarina Square on 29 March  at 3:30pm

·         Urban Quest finals concert at Darwin Entertainment Centre on 2 April at 7pm

For more information, entry forms and to donate visit www.missionaustralia.com.au or facebook.com/missionaust.