Some other articles, with mentioning the bgt experience:
Cowell’s vote puts youngster through
4 Feb 2009 00:00
TALENTED young Wishaw singer Nicholas McDonald impressed Simon Cowell and his fellow judges at the recent Scottish auditions for the popular TV show Britain's Got Talent.
Nicholas, a first year pupil at St Aidan’s High, was chosen from a staggering 5000 hopefuls to go through to the next round of the competition, to be held in London this weekend.
The youngster was successful in two auditions held in the SECC in Glasgow, and had to perform twice in front of the celebrity judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan.
Nicholas sang the Celine Dion classic My Heart Will Go On, taken from the hit film Titanic.
Both Amanda and Piers were very enthusiastic about 12-year-old Nicholas’ performance. Simon, however, was harder to please and wanted to hear another song with piano backing.
Nicholas chose to sing Tears In Heaven by Eric Clapton and this time Simon was convinced and with a “yes, yes, yes, you’re through,” the young singer had made the next round.
To finish off a memorable day, Nicholas was also interviewedby show presenters Ant andDec.
Nicholas’ pupil support teacher at St Aidan’s, Carol-Anne Lees, said: “Everyone at the school is extremely proud of Nicholas. He’s a lovely boy and we all wish him every success and hope he makes it through to the live shows.”
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/lo...hrough-2615738
By Maria Smith
Wishaw school boy is X Factor favourite
18 Sep 2013 00:00
A talented Wishaw schoolboy breezed through to the X Factor bootcamp after a ‘bellissimo’ performance at Wembley Arena.
Teen singing sensation and St Aidan’s High School pupil Nicholas McDonald is a firm bookies’ favourite in the televised national singing contest, after making his debut appearance on the show at the weekend.
After his Sunday night performance aired, the Twitosphere exploded with support for the school boy, with X Factor judge Nicole tweeting: “I heart Nicholas! What a great voice!!” and fellow judge Gary Barlow writing: “Beautifully sung Nicholas !”
Former X Factor winner Joe McElderry added: “Ahhhh nicholas has a great voice!!! Thats how to sing an audition!!”, while football superstar Rio Ferdinand tweeted: “Nicholas from Scotland has some voice on him!”
But this was not Nicholas’s first time behind the microphone, as his mum Eileen pointed out when we caught up with her.
She told the Wishaw Press: “The first time he sang was when he was three years old and he we were on holiday in Lanzarote. He sang Robbie Wiliiams’ Angels and he was great.”
Nicholas and mum Eileen live in Muirhouse with dad Derrick, brothers Kevin, 18 and Lewis,13, and his sister Antonia, 8.
They family were seen on TV at the auditions and tuned in at the weekend for the episode.
Eileen added: “We are just in awe of him, he’s just fantastic. It’s really overwhelming. Things like this you just dream about.”
Nicholas has been a keen performer for many years and has previously made it through to the London auditions on Britain’s Got Talent and held a residency at Dalziel Park Hotel.
The teen singing sensation also currently hold the title of Battle of the Bands Performer of the Year for his performance with St Aidan’s band Easy Company earlier this year.
Cecilia McEachaen, Principal Teacher of Music at St Aidan’s HS said: “I first remember hearing Nicholas sing when he was in first year and I was astounded at the maturity of his voice.
“There’s a great buzz about the school, everyone’s talking about Nicholas and how well he has done.”
Nicholas now progresses to X Factor bootcamp.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/lo...factor-2531819
X Factor hopeful Nicholas McDonald says he has been “overwhelmed” by his new found fame.
Since Nicky appeared on television at the weekend he has been asked for his autograph and has noticed strangers waving to him in the street.
The 16-year-old, whose parents are from Bothwell and Uddingston, says he has been amazed by his sudden launch to stardom and watched as his Twitter account soared from just 1000 followers to 12,000 in two days.
The youngster, who is in sixth year at St Aidan’s High School in Wishaw, checked his Twitter account on the night the show was screened and had celebrities Tweeting him.
X Factor judges Gary Barlow and Nicole Scherzinger both commented on how good he was and former X Factor winner Joe McElderry sent him a message reading: “Now that was an audition”.
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand also Tweeted a message of support.
The youngster’s Facebook page has also had thousands of likes from all over the world and now a fan page has been set up for the singing star.
Nicky, who lives in Motherwell, said: “I just can’t believe it. I went to the shops the other day and people were looking at me. It all hasn’t really sunk in yet.
“I just want to try and get as far in the competition as I possibly can.”
Nicky says singing in front of the judges was really quite nerve-wracking and there were about four other different auditions that weren’t even screened.
He said: “Singing in front of the judges was amazing.
“Seeing Nicole was brilliant and hearing their comments was really great.”
Nicky has been singing most of his life and has been regularly gigging at Dalziel Park in Motherwell.
He appeared on Britain’s Got Talent at the age of just 12, the year that Susan Boyle won.
Nicky said he was determined not to give up and as soon as he turned 16 in November of last year he auditioned for the show.
He says he has to thank his vocal coach, Mark Donnelly of Bothwell, who has been regularly giving him singing lessons.
The youngster, who has had full support of his family, his brother Kevin (18), brother Lewis (13) and sister Antonia (8), says the whole experience doesn’t quite feel real.
His mum Eileen, who is originally from Bothwell and has also been the youngster’s manager for the past four years, has given him great support and encouragement.
She said: “Just last year Nicky was ready to give it all up. But I told him he had a great gift and should use it. He is also classically trained and not many people are aware of just how good his voice is.
“The whole family gathered at our house to watch him on the television. It was great to see him and hear everyone’s comments.”
The self-employed finance agent, added: “He’s just fantastic and even his brother is saying can you believe that’s our Nicky. You dream of things like this.”
Nicky’s dad, Derrick, of Uddingston, speaking straight from his nightshift, said he has been “overwhelmed with Nicky and what he has achieved”.
He added: “It’s just been crazy that’s him all over today’s newspapers.”
The youngster’s grandparents, who both live in Uddingston, Sam and Mary, are also said to be really proud of their grandson.
Eileen added: “We just hope that people will get behind Nicky.”
A Hamilton-based driving school this week offered their support to the youngster in the form of free driving lessons.
Supercoool.drivingschool.com, who are based in Keith Street, have offered to put the former St Ignatius Primary School pupil through his driving test as soon as he hits his 17th birthday later on this year.
Nicky said: “It’s great, I definitely want to learn to drive. It’s a fantastic offer.”
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/lo...donald-2284582
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(and anyone else who wants to join).
But yes, he really is a good writer.
