A Belfast woman, who composed music for the BBC Paris Olympics coverage, will help select the winning pianist in a regional competition. Alt-pop artist Rebekah Fitch said she is “over the moon” at being chosen as guest judge for the final of Translink’s ‘Grand Pianist’ competition to mark the opening of Belfast’s Grand Central Station. The competition – which has seen a concert piano travel to five rail and bus stations in August and September, as part of a regional roadshow – invited amateur pianists to vie for the opportunity to perform at the new transport hub in the ‘Grand Final’ on October 3rd. READ MORE: Translink CEO gives update on Grand Central train station opening READ MORE: Visually impaired commuter concerned over decision to make Grand Central Station ‘silent’ Rebekah, a 28-year-old singer-songwriter widely tipped for musical stardom, said she can’t wait to see the home-grown talent: “Any initiative that puts a spotlight on creativity is really exciting – and important. Bringing creativity to the forefront and championing people is crucial. There’s so much hidden talent out there, and I can’t wait to see all the diverse people from different walks of life taking part.” The ‘Grand Pianist’ competition attracted over 100 hopefuls to the regional heats, where leading professional conductor and composer Matthew Owens – who will sit alongside Rebekah on the judging panel during the final – selected 12 musicians to compete for the top spot. London-based Rebekah, who’s married to Mexican architect and sustainability consultant Eliseo, 28, said that being chosen to compose and produce the music for the BBC’s Olympics trailer was “really significant” for her. “I moved from being a singer-songwriter into being a composer and it felt like starting again. It also couldn’t have come at a better time. “I’d had some open doors, writing for libraries and getting to pitch for different ads, but this was a real answered prayer,” she said. “It was encouraging that the BBC thought I was good enough to do that because so much of this industry brings imposter syndrome. You’re constantly second guessing yourself so it was a massive encouragement to have that opportunity and I was so grateful for it.” Rebekah, whose parents – Jeremy, 58, a businessman, and Christine, 56, a psychiatrist – have always been of huge support, said her version was chosen because “it felt the most emotional”. “They wanted the trailer to convey how the athletes are so invested in what they’re doing that it’s a real love story for them. It’s not just a career, it’s a life goal; something their whole heart goes into,” she said. “It was the idea of these lovers coming together and then turning into acrobats or footballers and you see that journey. They wanted the music to bring out that part of the story, and to play on the fact that it was in the city of love.” As the eldest of three – she has a younger sister Karis, 26, and 21-year-old brother Conor – Rebekah is used to blazing a trail, and she recalled how she became aware of her unique talent while trying out for a part in a school concert. “I was 16 and had never sung in front of anyone, although I’d always wanted to be a singer. I auditioned for the ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ solo from Les Miserables and got the part. During the first rehearsal we had with the choir, I sang it and everyone was in shock. It was then that I realised that I can do this,” she said. The Sullivan Upper School past pupil, who released her debut EP Broken Mind in 2018, started out in Belfast doing cover gigs in bars and busking. After moving to London, she sold flowers and taught English as a foreign language while still doing gigs. The talented musician subsequently moved into composing, which affords her a self-employed career. To date, she has released 14 singles and two critically acclaimed EPs, producing or co-producing every track. “The human voice is something that people can connect with instantly and seeing that connection is very satisfying,” she said. In 2019 Rebekah performed for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at a charity event at The Empire in Belfast, describing the royal couple as “really lovely”. Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol praised his compatriot for “great songs and a powerhouse voice”, adding that it was “easy to see great things ahead for her” while music magazine Hot Press described her as “a Northern Irish pop phenomenon”. Looking to the future, Rebekah said writing for films and TV “would be epic”, and she also wants to develop her style and challenge herself creatively. For now, though, she’ll be talent spotting in Belfast as a guest judge for Translink, with piano players all over Northern Ireland hoping to be hailed as the next big thing. For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
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