Musical Theatre Student Shines on The Voice

East Sussex College is excited to celebrate the incredible achievement of one of its own - Emily Milton, a current Musical Theatre student, who has made an impressive mark on the national stage!

At just 16, Emily became the youngest contestant to reach the blind auditions of ITV’s hit show, The Voice.

Emily's journey began with numerous auditions, each one a stepping stone toward her dream of performing in front of some of the biggest names in the music industry. Filmed back in February, Emily took to the stage with confidence and talent, singing her heart out for a star-studded panel of coaches, including Tom Fletcher, Danny Jones from McFly, Will.i.am, Sir Tom Jones, and LeAnn Rimes.

Speaking to the College about her experience, Emily said, “When I found out that I was lucky enough to be one of the candidates selected for the blind auditions of 'The Voice', I was so excited as the experience you get from an opportunity like this will help you in the professional world no matter what the outcome is. I was also overwhelmed with nerves, as a normal human would be, because I would be a little fish in a big pond due to my age and levels of experience in the professional industry.

“However, I personally found that one of the best parts about this achievement was telling my closest friends and family, as they all had no idea and were so shocked and supportive.”

Emily outlined how daunting, but also special it was to perform in front of such a talented panel of celebrities.

“Performing for these celebrities who have achieved so much in the professional industry was certainly daunting as they would have seen a lot of talent and therefore will have very high expectations due to the limited number of spaces they have on their team,” said Emily. “However, the highlight of my experience was after I sang, Tom Fletcher peaked over his shoulder and gave me a smile and nod, which meant a lot.

“The audition process is much longer than the general public would think and mine was actually spread over around 5 months. Viewers only see the blind auditions first, which they think is the first round, whereas there's actual multiple rounds behind the scenes, online and in front of producers, where you audition for an audition.”

Emily has nurtured her skills at East Sussex College and she praised the Musical Theatre course and her tutors for giving her more confidence to take on such a big challenge.

Emily said, “The performing arts course at East Sussex College has certainly helped my confidence due to the opportunities they have given me in just one academic year, such as playing Judy in 9 To 5 The Musical. The teachers at college have deepened my understanding of the levels of commitment and determination needed to succeed in the industry.

“The course they provide definitely pushes me out of my comfort zone which in turn makes me stronger and more resilient. It helps you overcome failure and look at it in a positive light as without competition you'd have nothing to strive for.”

Speaking on advice she’d give to other aspiring performers, Emily said,“The advice I would give other aspiring performers who would love to have an experience like 'The Voice', would be to push yourself out of your comfort zone as you have to try scary things in order to build your confidence. To not be afraid of failing, as without learning from your faults, you will never build the knowledge of what works for you as a performer to succeed. Lastly, it sounds cliche, but never give up.”

Reaching the blind auditions is an incredible feat, especially at such a young age. Emily’s dedication, hard work, and passion for music have clearly paid off, and this accomplishment is just the beginning of what promises to be a bright future. The entire East Sussex College community is incredibly proud of Emily, and we can't wait to see what she achieves next!

If you’d like to follow in Emily’s footsteps, please click here to find out more about the College’s Musical Theatre course.