FAME and fortune beckon for

talented Ilkley teenagers with the chance to make it as big as Pop Idol's Gareth Gates.

The Bradford 18-year-old who shot to instant stardom as a result of the television talent show could soon have a rival closer to home.

And just like Gareth, Ilkley's own Pop Star will have the chance to strut their stuff before professional agents, top coaches and other contacts in the pop world as well as take part in a recording studio session.

The talent show 'Pop Star - Make it Happen' is the brainchild of the organisers of the Wharfedale Music Festival.

The traditional festival, which has been helping the careers of performers for almost 100 years, including world famous actress Dianna Rigg, is about to branch out into pop music.

The first auditions for Pop Star will be held at the Upstagers Barn on Station Road on October 26 and the entry fee is £3.50.

Music teacher and musician Judith Mills will be organising the event which she said would be able to tap the talents of young people involved in pop music locally.

She said: "There is a lot of talent among teenagers involved in pop music which has not yet been tapped or had the opportunity locally to be expressed, explored or experienced in the same way as classical music has via the festival.

"Pop Star is an exciting new venture for the Wharfedale Music Festival aimed at providing teenagers who are into pop music (as opposed to classical) with a platform to discover, explore and realise their talent in their own sphere of music.

"We are introducing this new dimension on the basis that the

festival should, and can, reflect and incorporate the diversities of interests and talents of the teens in the community. Pop Star aims to give them an open forum and allow them to become an inclusive and integral part of the festival."

Ms Mills added that the departure into pop music would run alongside the more traditional parts of the Festival, and would be just one of the many competition classes.

The Pop Star project is another step in the direction festival organisers have been taking to broaden the appeal of the annual event and involve more people in the

community.

Under the direction of secretary Elizabeth Holbrook, the festival has been throwing off its stuffy, highbrow image by including such acts as jazz and modern dancing, as well as Asian classes.

But the latest idea could capture the imagination and support of a whole host of youngsters in the town anxious to display their

talents on a bigger stage.

Ms Mills said: "A further aim is to change the concept that the festival is purely representative of classical music, and thus to attract more people, both as performers and spectators.

We hope that introducing Pop Star will enable us to be fully accessible and will create more awareness of the festival in an age group that we wish to become more directly involved."

The closing date for entries is September 30. Adjudicators are looking for star quality which

will embrace vocal technique, stage presence and overall presentation.

The requirements are for entrants to sing any pop song of their choice with a time limit of 15 minutes. Backing is not necessary because the adjudicators will

be assessing only the solo

performer.

If the idea takes off, Ms Mills said that a further competition would be introduced to the festival next year which will include local pop bands.

From the total entries this year, 15 solo performers will be selected for the semi-finals where they will be required to sing two pop songs of contrasting styles. From these 15, five will go forward into the final, and the winner will be asked to perform at the Gala Concert of the Festival at the Kings Hall on May 17, 2003.

Entry forms and further information are available from various locations around Ilkley, including the Ilkley Library, Tesco supermarket, Booths supermarket, Kwik Save supermarket, other businesses and the Ilkley Gazette office at 8 Wells Road.

Further information is also available on the festival web site

at (www.wharfedalefestival.co.uk). The age limit for entries is between 14 and 19 years on May 17, 2003.