A KNUTSFORD Academy student has been shortlisted in the top ten for ‘The Song Academy Young Songwriter 2016’.

Josh Whittaker, 16, will join the other nine finalists in the ages 13 to 19 category at Westfield London on Sunday, June 12 for the last stage of the competition.

Josh was shortlisted with his own original song ‘switch up’, which by a star-studded panel including famous singer/songwriter Tom Odell and TV presenter Jamie Theakston.

Josh who studies in the Studio School at the Academy and has his GCSE examinations in a few week’s time, said: “I can’t really explain how it feels to be in the top 10 songwriters of my age group especially when your music is being listened to by judges like Tom Odell - ‘Another Love’ was one of the first covers I ever sang.

“Original music is what I want to be known for and this is a massive step in the right direction."

Talking about the competition, Tom Odell, said: "When I was 13 years old I started writing songs, and over the following years I

became more and more obsessed with it. But the thing that always kept me awake at night was how to get them out there for people to hear them. This is why I think the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition is a great way to inspire and help through this process, and it’s something I wish had been around when I was starting out."

Josh recently sang at the Knutsford mayor’s charity ball, receiving great feedback from the Mayor and audience, and has also been involved in numerous other events including reaching the final of the UK Open Mic Competition in 2014.

He was chosen out of 443 entries across the UK and Ireland, 70 per cent of which were entries from female artists.

To hear ‘switch up’ by Josh Whittaker, visit soundcloud.com/josh-whittaker-music