A County Down teenager will perform with West End and Broadway performer Kerry Ellis this autumn after claiming first place in a solo singing competition.

Ruairidh Hunter, aged 14 and from Bangor, won the 13-14 solo singing category at the inaugural National Performance Awards held in the MAC Theatre, Belfast, over the weekend. His rendition of For Her from the musical The Great Gatsby secured the win.

The victory gave him a second performance slot, where he was chosen as one of two overall winners from the age category champions. That prize is an appearance on stage with Kerry Ellis for one night of her tour later in the year.

Ruairidh studies jazz and contemporary dance at Beats Studios NI in Bangor and ballet at Laura Walker’s school in Holywood. He also attends The Avenue Arts Academy in Belfast and Clear Voices speech and drama classes. In June he achieved a distinction in his Grade 7 LCME Musical Theatre singing exam under tutor Susan Adgey, his mother Charlotte said.

Charlotte said her son began dancing at age six and was surprised by the win. She said he hopes to pursue a career in musical theatre and has already performed in productions of Bugsy Malone, Oliver! and Home Alone.

The competition was organised by choreographer Ryan Jenkins, a former dancer in the musical Wicked, and featured a day of dance categories followed by a day of singing. Participants took part in workshops with Kerry Ellis and performed in both auditions and group pieces.