Hope Academy Edinburgh
12 March 08
I think its fair to say that Hope Academy Edinburgh literaly rocked – so much so that Edinburgh Regional Finalists winners received a standing ovation.
The judges at Hope Academy Edinburgh, hosted by Community Church Edinburgh, were Emma Owen from God TV, Tim Owen who is from the creative arts organisation Genetik, Justin Dowds who organises Frenzy and Sam Gallagher a music producer for Destiny Church.
The judges had a real tough time trying to choose who was to go through to the Edinburgh Regional Final and a decision was finally made. There were 3 acts going head-to-head in the under 18 age category. 1st up for Craig Macintyre from Falkirk who played a cool song that he had written and produced himself; Laura and Ruth from Carrubbers Church Edinburgh, who sang a duet with the song Hallelujah’s and acapella soul-singing Jodie Thompson from Dalkeith.
There were 5 acts in the over 18s category: Jo Wilson who wooed the audience with awesome repetative sound effects and song lyrics written by himself – practically a full band in one person; acoustic playing Bruce Foley, Blues singing Mark and Steph, soloist Fran Bainbrige who is from Bristol and female-Jack Johnson-like-singer Franklyn from the west-side of Scotland.
After a jaw-dropping Hope Academy show and votes had been counted the winners were announced! The winner of the the under 18 category was 16 year old, Jodie Thompson. The winners of the over 18s were Mark and Steph. The audience were eager to hear the 2 winning acts again which the winners agreed to.
Mark and Steph sang a blues version of Psalm 13 which was really appropriate to sing at Hope Academy as it can relate to the Persecuted Church:
1 How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? 3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; 4 my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. 5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. 6 I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.
NIV
Well Hope Academy is now on its last audition stages for 2008 which will be taking place on 28 and 29 March in Belfast! Check out the Hope Academy site for more detials.
Tickets can now be purchased for the May 10 London Grand Final at Westminster’s Emmanuel Centre! Buy them here Come support and be entertained by all the God-given-talented acts who will be battling it out to be a voice for the Persecuted Church – an event so not to be missed!