Demi Holborn
Encyclopedia
Demi Ann-Marie Holborn is a Welsh
professional singer who holds the distinction of being one of the UK
's youngest female solo artist to hit the Top 40 of the UK Singles Chart
.
s. In 2002, her eldest brother secretly entered her in GMTV
's Totstars competition. After weeks of waiting, the phone votes were counted and out of approximately 200,000 votes, Holborn received 164,365. From this, Holborn won a record contract with Universal Records
and a scholarship
to the Barbara Speake Stage School, besting 6000 competitors for the top prize. She then released the record with covers of "I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing" / "My Boy
" with the bonus track "Ben
", which reached number 27 on the UK Singles Chart
, number 5 in Wales and 61 in Germany. As a result of the charting she unseated Lena Zavaroni
as the youngest female solo artist to make the UK Top 40.
In 2005 Holborn was believed to be an early contender for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest
, but was ultimately disqualified from the competition as she had already charted a song and was therefore no longer considered an amateur.
Holborn has performed at many events in Wales such as Party in the Park
2002 and the Millennium Stadium
meeting. Since the competition, she has performed to help raise funds for various charities in the UK.
when she started her professional singing career, and became the youngest singer in Guinness World Records
.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
professional singer who holds the distinction of being one of the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's youngest female solo artist to hit the Top 40 of the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
Singing career
The youngest of four children, Holborn began her career in the music business at the age of eight and was offered two recording contractRecording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
s. In 2002, her eldest brother secretly entered her in GMTV
GMTV
GMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
's Totstars competition. After weeks of waiting, the phone votes were counted and out of approximately 200,000 votes, Holborn received 164,365. From this, Holborn won a record contract with Universal Records
Universal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...
and a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
to the Barbara Speake Stage School, besting 6000 competitors for the top prize. She then released the record with covers of "I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing" / "My Boy
My Boy
"My Boy" is the title of a popular song from the early 1970s. The music was composed by Jean Bourtayre and Claude Francois , and the lyrics were translated from the original version "Parce que je t'aime, mon enfant" into English by Phil Coulter and Bill Martin.-Richard Harris version:Actor Richard...
" with the bonus track "Ben
Ben (song)
"Ben" is a song written by Don Black and composed by Walter Scharf for the 1972 film of the same name . It was performed in the film by Lee Montgomery and by Michael Jackson over the closing credits. Jackson's single, recorded for the Motown label in 1972, spent one week at the top of the U.S. pop...
", which reached number 27 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, number 5 in Wales and 61 in Germany. As a result of the charting she unseated Lena Zavaroni
Lena Zavaroni
Lena Hilda Zavaroni was a Scottish child singer and a television show host. With her album Ma! He's Making Eyes At Me at ten years of age, she is the youngest person in history to have an album in the UK album chart top ten. Later in life she hosted TV shows and appeared on stage...
as the youngest female solo artist to make the UK Top 40.
In 2005 Holborn was believed to be an early contender for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest
Junior Eurovision Song Contest
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest , is an international song competition which has been organised by the European Broadcasting Union annually since 2003 and is open exclusively to broadcasters that are members of the EBU. It is held in a different European city each year.The competition has many...
, but was ultimately disqualified from the competition as she had already charted a song and was therefore no longer considered an amateur.
Holborn has performed at many events in Wales such as Party in the Park
Party in the Park
Party in the Park is the generic name given to music concerts organised by various radio stations and local authorities in England and Wales, typically in large parks during the summer.-Leeds' Party in the Park:...
2002 and the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
meeting. Since the competition, she has performed to help raise funds for various charities in the UK.
Personal life
Holborn was a pupil at Pontnewynydd Primary SchoolPontnewynydd Primary School
Pontnewynydd Primary School is located in Pontnewynydd, Wales and is situated close to the settlements of Pontnewynydd, Abersychan, Trevethin and Pontypool. It was opened in 1903 in a large, imposing building which was built in 1901...
when she started her professional singing career, and became the youngest singer in Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
.