FOLLOWING the stellar success of Raye Harvey’s performance at the LG Arena last year, The Music Pool is ready to open the doors to another flood of young Herefordian talent, as this year’s OMG Herefordshire competition opens to entrants today.

Open to everyone between the ages of 12 and 18, OMG Herefordshire aims to find the best young artist from the area, who will go on to represent the county at OMG Live at the LG Arena in Birmingham.

The competition closes on Friday, January 9, 2015, after which a shortlist of performers will be drawn up.

The shortlisted acts will then perform before a panel of judges at The Courtyard on Sunday, February 8, with the winner getting the chance to perform at one of the country's most prominent venues, but also the opportunity to participate in professional master-classes both before and after the event.

Jack Sibley, manager of the Livewire project (The Music Pool’s Youth Music project) and this year’s manager of OMG Herefordshire, says: “I am regularly made acutely aware of how often young talent in Herefordshire goes under-nourished. It’s opportunities like this that need to be taken advantage of by the vast wealth of young artists in the area.”

Anthony Murphy, co-manager of The Jailhouse and a judge on last year’s OMG Herefordshire panel, adds that OMG “is a fantastic initiative for any young musician. The opportunity to perform in a real professional set up in front of a crowd that size is something most young musicians can only dream of!”

To enter OMG Herefordshire, simply upload a video to Youtube and email the link with a completed application form to info@musicpool.org.uk to be in with a chance of winning.

To check terms and conditions or for further information, please call The Music Pool on 01432 278118 or visit musicpool.org.uk