Emily is a rising star

By Kelly Yates
AN ENDEAVOUR Hills woman hit all the high notes to win last weekend’s Berwick Show Star Search competition.
Emily Mulholland took out first place after wowing the crowds with a musical theatre routine.
After taking home the title, the 19-year-old is now preparing to travel to London later this year hoping to do some work on the West End in musicals such as Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables.
“I want to have done Les Miserables professionally just once before I die,” she said.
With performing on Broadway being Ms Mulholland’s number one goal, she believes London will be a stepping stone in her career.
“London is climbing up the ladder in terms of theatre shows,” she said.
“If I get to Broadway, I’ll be there for my whole life. I’m never going to stop performing.”
The former Gleneagles Secondary College student, who has been singing for 11 years, says she has a passion for musical theatre.
“When I was little, I used to watch a lot of musicals,” she said.
“Mum got me a copy of Annie. Many people thought I was weird because instead of watching cartoons like other kids, I’d watch Annie every day.”
Ms Mulholland is also a classical opera singer.
“I’ve done shows with the Victorian Opera and Opera Australia,” she said.
“Opera is amazing but when it comes down to it, I pick musical theatre because there is a bigger range of things to do.”
The performer sang “Astonishing” from Little Women at the Berwick Show Star Search finals on Saturday night, and it was described as a “character piece.”
“I was worried the audience wouldn’t respond. But obviously the judges did,” she said.
“I had an audition for an agency that morning so I was up very early. I was tired but my adrenaline pushed me through it.”
Berwick Show Star Search organiser Naomi Horsley said the 2010 event raised more than $800 for the Cancer Council’s Relay for Life.
Thirteen-year-old Haylie-Grace Sulyok from Endeavour Hills won first place in the junior section, with Lynbrook’s Jake Heurea coming second and Hannah Radford getting the third place.
Endevaour Hills resident Shannon Arfaras was placed second in the open category and Rachael Graham scored third.
The people’s choice award on the day went to Narre Warren South’s Shanelle Jacobs.
The finalists in the competition will perform a free showcase concert at the Central Hotel in Beaconsfield on Saturday 6 March at 7pm.