SINGERS and dancers battled it out to be crowned the top performer in a charity talent show.

Talented individuals took to the stage at Watersmeet Theatre in Rickmansworth last week to perform in a talent show for Northwood-based Michael Sobell Hospice.

A total of 10 acts competed for the winning title including a young dance group, several solo performers, a Bollywood dance act and a Jazz Quartet.

Solo singer Maria Conneely, who lives in Harrow and attends St Dominic’s Sixth Form College in Harrow-on-the-Hill., was selected as the winning performance for her rendition of the Italian song ‘Con te partirò’ and ‘Time To Say Goodbye’ written by Francesco Sartori and Lucio Quarantotto.

Maria has performed in several amateur shows including playing the lead role of Annie in Annie and Glinda in Wicked, and has sung in many school concerts and other events.

She said: “I am thrilled and so pleased to have won the MSH talent show. I really like using my talent to help others.

“It was lovely to have won and it was for such a great cause.”

The 17-year-old hopes to go to a performing arts school to study Musical Theatre when she has finished her A Levels.

The award for second place went to 13-year-old Miriam Nyarko from Edgware, who sang ‘One Night Only’ from the Broadway musical Dreamgirls.

Third place was awarded to Jazz Quintent Enartloc, a group of students from Whitmore High School in Harrow who performed Strasbourg Street Denis by Roy Hargrove.

All the acts performed in front of a live audience and judging panel, which included MSH CEO Lindsey Fealey, volunteer Terry Harding, supporter Laurence Garber and Kate Ross who worked at MSH as a staff nurse.

The event, which was organised by nurse team manager Carol Weston, has raised £2,500 for the charity with all ticket sales on the night being matched by Barclays Bank.