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Ashford singer to appear on new BBC1 singing show - Pitch Battle

An Ashford singer is featuring on a new BBC singing show this weekend.

Twenty-two year old Marie Kemp will be performing, alongside her group Soul Train, tomorrow on BBC1’s new show Pitch Battle.

The new singing show which began last Saturday was inspired by the popular film Pitch Perfect and sees choirs performing in front of an all-star judging panel.

Ashford born Marie Kemp has been performing all her life. Credit: Marie Kemp
Ashford born Marie Kemp has been performing all her life. Credit: Marie Kemp

Deke Sharon, the musical director of the Pitch Perfect movies is also on hand to help the singers.

Every week, six vocal groups have to perform a series of different singing challenges before one group is chosen and sent through to the finals.

Marie, from near Westwell, is a professional actress and teaches at Showbiz Academy.

Herself and the other eight members of Soul Train have been working hard in rehearsals all week for Saturday’s performance.

She said: “I joined Soul Train about two years ago, many of the members have known each other since childhood, so I came in quite late!

“Four of us have trained at the same drama school, Aelfa Academy of Dramatic Arts, and my drama teacher Stacey Williams was the one to recommend me to join the group."

Each week the contestants are judged by a different celebrity, American singer Chaka Khan will be the guest at Soul Train’s performance.

Soul Train will be appearing on Pitch Battle. Credit: Marie Kemp
Soul Train will be appearing on Pitch Battle. Credit: Marie Kemp

“The experience of the show has been absolutely amazing,” Marie continued.

“One of my personal highlights was working with Deke Sharon, who works on the Pitch Perfect films.

"He has such an enthusiastic personality and his pep talks were so inspiring.

“It also really highlights how many people are working behind the scenes!

"For rehearsals we’re up early and finish late, but that’s nothing compared to the hours the backstage crew must have been doing.

“Yet despite their lack of sleep, they were always full of energy and ready to help with anything we needed.”

To catch Soul Train tune into BBC1 at 7.30pm tomorrow.

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