The 21-year-old music student at Bristol University has reached the area final of the Open Mic UK competition, which sees over 9,000 acts from across the country vie for a recording contract to release their first single and up to £30,000 investment.

It’s the biggest music competition in the UK for singers, songwriters, rappers and solo artists to showcase their music and get signed.

Emily, who has been writing songs since she was 12, was one of five people in her age category to win through in the regional final held in Bristol and will now pit her vocal talents against acts in the area final on Sunday [20 November] in London.

Should she be successful in this round then a place in the grand final at the O2, singing in front of over 2,000 people, will await – and a chance of winning the coveted prize.

It’s not Emily’s first taste of stardom, having performed at Glastonbury over the summer after auditioning for a slot on the Greenpeace Stage. She was then asked to record the track in a straw recording studio, which can be heard online.

Emily, who is studying a Masters in Music having just completed her undergraduate studies at Bristol, said: “Glastonbury was a great experience. Hopefully I’ll be able to return in a few years.

“I entered the Open Mic UK Competition in the hope that someone will spot me and want to invest time in helping me. It’s a bit daunting but at the same time I really love having the opportunity to play to such a large audience.

“My style’s very different to the other acts which won through from Bristol. I’d say it’s somewhere between Regina Spektor, Kate Bush and Diana Krall.”

Emily will be singing a cover of Christina Aguilera’s Beautiful track followed by her own song called Mixed Messages.

Her winning performance in the regional final, held at St George's, can be seen on YouTube.