Musicians, dancers and singers were among the acts which delighted the crowds at the second round of Colchester’s most dynamic youth talent competition.
The young entertainers showed off their skills at Colchester Has Talent which is back again this year to celebrate the city’s rising stars.
The second round of the competition was staged in Lion Walk Courtyard in Lion Walk Shopping Centre, Colchester, with youngsters producing dazzling performances before an appreciative audience of friends, family and excited shoppers.
The golden buzzer was won by eight-year-old Finn Connolly – aka DJ Finnatic – who coolly presented an impressive play list featuring tracks from Daft Punk, James Hype, Hannah Laing, Dimension, Chase and Status, Bou and Stormzy.
One of the judges, Katie Skingle, managing director of creative marketing agency KAT Marketing, said: “Each week we’re seeing more incredibly talented youngsters step up to the challenge of performing to a large audience – it’s wonderful to see! Well done to all participants. You’re all so wonderful and it’s been a privilege to watch you showcase your talents. If you didn’t get through this year, we very much hope to see you to continue to develop further and come back again and see us next year. This year’s competition is magnificent, and the final is going to be very difficult to decide on just one winner indeed!”
Three other acts will also go forward to the grand final in Lion Walk Shopping Centre next month.
Classical musicians Miranda and Anasuya Navaneethakrishnan, who are 14 and 12, performed a moving version of Elgar’s Chanson de Matin on violin and keyboard to win a place in the finals.
They will be joined by musician and singer Iris and Eliza Pampapathi, 11 and 14, with a brilliant presentation of Dead Mom from Beetlejuice the Musical, and stylish dancers Caitlyn Isom and Maisie Minter, 13 and 12, who entertained with a fantastic performance to Dirty Cash (Money Talks) by The Adventures of Stevie B.
The four aspiring acts will join star acts from the first round of Colchester Has Talent in the finals – gifted singer and dancer Gabriella Goldie, nine, 12-year-old singer Alisha Rajapakse and singer and pianist Ashley Cook, 15.
The finals will be held in Lion Walk Shopping Centre on September 13 from 2pm to 5pm.
The overall winner will earn a coveted spot performing at the city’s Christmas Light Switch-on joining the festivities alongside Santa, seasonal characters and a host of magical experiences on Saturday November 22, 2025.
Martin Leatherdale, Centre Manager at Lion Walk, said: “We’re thrilled to bring Colchester Has Talent back for another spectacular year. We’ve seen amazing performers come through this competition and it seems 2025 is raising the bar even higher.
“The Christmas Light Switch-on is one of Colchester’s most popular events and it’s a real honour for the winner to take part.
“The Lion Walk Courtyard is the perfect backdrop for Colchester Has Talent. There’s a great buzz, and it’s a brilliant way to bring the community together to celebrate local talent.”
