0:00:18 > 0:00:20MUSIC: O Fortuna 16,000 people
0:00:20 > 0:00:23will soon fill this stadium.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25All eyes will be on me
0:00:25 > 0:00:29as I share what I like best in the world.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32I love opera. I'm opera mad!
0:00:32 > 0:00:35It's my dream to become an opera singer.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39And one day I would like to sing in that building.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42But some people don't think I can do it.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45Someone said, "Your voice sounds like...WARBLING...like that."
0:00:45 > 0:00:47I even doubt myself.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50I was off key on one point. I hated it.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52But can I prove them wrong?
0:00:52 > 0:00:54I'm going to be out there soon.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56SHE WHIMPERS I'm so scared.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58Time to find out about
0:00:58 > 0:01:00my life, and My Voice.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08Hi, my names Persia, and this is where I live.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10Come on in!
0:01:10 > 0:01:12I was born in Leeds and I've lived
0:01:12 > 0:01:15here for 11¾ years.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18Right, this might sound weird, but my bedroom's downstairs,
0:01:18 > 0:01:19so come on.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25We are in the basement of the house, and I don't have a window,
0:01:25 > 0:01:28so I've got a fake, rusty old one...
0:01:28 > 0:01:30and it's changeable!
0:01:30 > 0:01:32This is the daytime one,
0:01:32 > 0:01:34and this...
0:01:34 > 0:01:36is the night-time one.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39I love drawing, I love watching TV,
0:01:39 > 0:01:41and I love reading.
0:01:41 > 0:01:42And being a mermaid.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44Ta-da! I'm a mermaid.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47I live here with my mum and our cat Voodoo.
0:01:47 > 0:01:48When I can find her, that is.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50Hiya!
0:01:50 > 0:01:51I've got her, I've got her! Oh, no, no, no!
0:01:51 > 0:01:53She just...
0:01:53 > 0:01:54No! No!
0:01:54 > 0:01:56Mum, get her!
0:01:56 > 0:01:58This is my mum...
0:01:58 > 0:02:00She's mad.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02She drinks green smoothies
0:02:02 > 0:02:04that look like snot.
0:02:04 > 0:02:05Do you want some?
0:02:05 > 0:02:07SHE GAGS
0:02:07 > 0:02:08'She's a character.'
0:02:08 > 0:02:10It's nice!
0:02:10 > 0:02:11Full of life, full of energy.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13She drives me nuts sometimes.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15- Come here, Persia. - PERSIA WHIMPERS
0:02:15 > 0:02:18It's just been the two of us since I was...
0:02:18 > 0:02:20two, nearly three.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22We've got an amazing relationship.
0:02:23 > 0:02:30# Panis angelicus... #
0:02:30 > 0:02:32Some kids are crazy about football,
0:02:32 > 0:02:36some kids are crazy about ballet, tap, dance...
0:02:36 > 0:02:38I'm just crazy about opera.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40I'm mad about it.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42# Dat panis coelicus
0:02:42 > 0:02:49# Figuris terminum... #
0:02:49 > 0:02:53Singing makes me feel, you know, on top of the world and really happy.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57# Mirabilis Manducat... #
0:02:57 > 0:02:59It's something that just touches you,
0:02:59 > 0:03:02and it makes all your emotions just spread out everywhere.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06# La boheme... #
0:03:06 > 0:03:09The first time I fell in love with opera was when I went to see
0:03:09 > 0:03:12La Boheme with my mum when I was about seven.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14SHE SINGS ARIA FROM LA BOHEME
0:03:14 > 0:03:18I was totally mesmerised all the way through it.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20If you don't know what mesmerised means,
0:03:20 > 0:03:22It means, you know, like, really, like...
0:03:22 > 0:03:27SHE SINGS ARIA FROM LA BOHEME
0:03:27 > 0:03:30When I came home, I was like,
0:03:30 > 0:03:33"I love opera. I'm opera mad!"
0:03:33 > 0:03:35# L'amour est... #
0:03:35 > 0:03:38An opera is a story told entirely through song,
0:03:38 > 0:03:40and the first one was sung in Italy
0:03:40 > 0:03:42almost 400 years ago.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44CARTOON PERSIA SINGS
0:03:44 > 0:03:47Opera is full-on singing.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51Musicals is just a few songs and talking.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53So there's a big difference.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57MUSIC: Habanera from Carmen
0:03:57 > 0:03:59It's quite emotional sometimes.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02You'll think, "Wow, this is a really happy bit,"
0:04:02 > 0:04:04and then, all of a sudden, "Oh, hang on."
0:04:06 > 0:04:09It's all gone really angry and fighty.
0:04:09 > 0:04:10This is cool.
0:04:10 > 0:04:11CARTOON PERSIA TRILLS
0:04:11 > 0:04:12APPLAUSE
0:04:12 > 0:04:16I don't think I'd be able to live without it.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19When I'm older I want to be an opera singer, definitely,
0:04:19 > 0:04:21so I'd better get cracking.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23SHE LAUGHS
0:04:23 > 0:04:24SHE PLAYS PIANO
0:04:26 > 0:04:28In my school no-one is like me.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32I'm the only one in the whole school who wants to be an opera singer,
0:04:32 > 0:04:34and the only one who loves opera
0:04:34 > 0:04:37so, so, so, so much.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41Some people think I'm different and strange and weird.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46Sometimes it just makes me want to cry.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51I'm not weird, I'm just me.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57SHE SINGS SCALES For the last four years,
0:04:57 > 0:04:58I've been training.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02Being a singer is like an athlete, because,
0:05:02 > 0:05:05you know, with athletes, you have to go to the gym
0:05:05 > 0:05:07to be strong and sturdy,
0:05:07 > 0:05:09and with singing, you...
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Your voice has to be strong and sturdy, as well.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15- SUE SINGS HIGH NOTES - There, OK?
0:05:15 > 0:05:17I have weekly lessons with Sue,
0:05:17 > 0:05:20an opera singer who has performed all over the world.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23- Good - now, that was a top A. - Sorry, my voice is a bit...
0:05:23 > 0:05:24dodgy.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26'When I first heard Persia sing,'
0:05:26 > 0:05:28it was very surprising,
0:05:28 > 0:05:30and it did sort of make me tingle.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33SUE MOUTHS, PERSIA SINGS
0:05:33 > 0:05:36'It is an amazing sound for an 11-year-old.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39- Right, let's have a look at Panis Angelicus.- Oh, OK.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42'It's practice, practice, practice for me,
0:05:42 > 0:05:45'cos I've got a special performance coming up.'
0:05:46 > 0:05:53# Panis angelicus... #
0:05:53 > 0:05:56'She's going to face one of the biggest challenges she'll have,'
0:05:56 > 0:05:59because she's now going to be singing with a really,
0:05:59 > 0:06:01really well-known orchestra.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04# Panis coelicus... #
0:06:04 > 0:06:08'I've never ever, ever sung with an orchestra before.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11It's just going to be me, on my own,
0:06:11 > 0:06:12with an orchestra,
0:06:12 > 0:06:15and I just... I just hope
0:06:15 > 0:06:17I can pull this off.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19- It's going too low. - SUE SINGS NOTE
0:06:19 > 0:06:22- Get that... - PERSIA SINGS NOTE
0:06:22 > 0:06:23'There's nerves and nerves.'
0:06:23 > 0:06:25There's nerves that destroy you,
0:06:25 > 0:06:27and there's nerves that are good for you.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29I know all about nerves.
0:06:29 > 0:06:34I was seven when I got my first chance to sing live on the radio.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37So I went on Chris Evans' Breakfast Show and sang for him.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39- Hello, Persia from Leeds. - Hello.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41Hello, Persia. Seven years old -
0:06:41 > 0:06:44what did you do for the first time ever yesterday?
0:06:44 > 0:06:47I sang and I did opera.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51But it was so embarrassing because I kept on making loads of mistakes.
0:06:51 > 0:06:52SHE SINGS SINGLE NOTE
0:06:52 > 0:06:54Oh, I've forgotten it now.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57SHE SINGS SCALES
0:07:05 > 0:07:08As soon as I went, "Bye," I went, "Bye... Ugh!
0:07:08 > 0:07:10"Hang up the phone! Hang up the phone!"
0:07:10 > 0:07:13OK? Fine. That was a really good lesson, and I'm really...
0:07:13 > 0:07:17I'm just petrified. I am scared to the bone.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20I just really hope I can do this.
0:07:20 > 0:07:21Really well done.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25Sue has been a huge help building my confidence for the performance,
0:07:25 > 0:07:28but this will be one of our last lessons together.
0:07:28 > 0:07:33We're moving to London in a few weeks and I'm really excited.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37So...yeah, and it's going to be a big change for me.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40- Come on, let's take the boxes downstairs into your room.- OK.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43This is going to just make accessibility to
0:07:43 > 0:07:46the world of opera much easier for her.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48Right, Mum, can I start with my books?
0:07:50 > 0:07:54Hopefully, when I'm in London my opera singing will improve
0:07:54 > 0:07:56and improve and improve.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00If Persia wants to be a singer, I couldn't back her more.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03My hope is that she achieves everything she wants to do.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05No-o-o-o!
0:08:05 > 0:08:07Leaving Leeds is going to be hard.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09All my close family are here.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11My uncle lives next door,
0:08:11 > 0:08:13and my nana has a house nearby,
0:08:13 > 0:08:15but she's in hospital.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17It's going to be a massive change.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21I'm really going to miss all my friends and family,
0:08:21 > 0:08:24which is going to be really, really upsetting.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26This is probably going to be the biggest change
0:08:26 > 0:08:28in Persia's entire life.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30She was born here,
0:08:30 > 0:08:34and now...everything's going to be uprooted.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37Come on, then, monkey, tell me -
0:08:37 > 0:08:38how do you feel about moving to London?
0:08:38 > 0:08:42I just feel a bit nervous, cos it's a brand-new life,
0:08:42 > 0:08:44and...
0:08:44 > 0:08:47I don't really know anyone there.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49- But you're OK about it?- Yeah.- OK.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54I just feel a bit, you know, worried about school -
0:08:54 > 0:08:58high school and stuff like that - and school at the moment, so...
0:08:58 > 0:09:01That's all right. We'll deal with it together.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03Cos you and me are what?
0:09:03 > 0:09:05- Thunder and lightning. - Thunder and lightning?
0:09:05 > 0:09:07SHE IMITATES CRACKLING
0:09:07 > 0:09:10There's a couple of weeks left until we move down to London.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14But before then, I've got to pull off my biggest performance yet.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16Come on, it's your big day.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19SHE SQUEALS Voodoo...
0:09:19 > 0:09:21I'm off to the studios in MediaCity
0:09:21 > 0:09:25to make a recording with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28I really want to leave on a high before I say
0:09:28 > 0:09:30goodbye to the north and head down to London.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32So we have just arrived in Manchester
0:09:32 > 0:09:36and it is a very sunny day, and I am so excited!
0:09:38 > 0:09:40I've never sung with an orchestra before,
0:09:40 > 0:09:43so today is a massive challenge.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46I am very nervous - I'm petrified.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49I've got, like, butterflies in my tummy, and I'm, like,
0:09:49 > 0:09:51"Ah-h-h!"
0:09:51 > 0:09:53I'm, like, "Am I going to do this properly?
0:09:53 > 0:09:55"Am I going to forget the words?"
0:09:55 > 0:09:57- Persia, is this all for you? - Oh, my God!
0:09:57 > 0:09:59- PERSIA GIGGLES - That's amazing.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02My biggest worry is that I'll faint...
0:10:02 > 0:10:03Or trump or burp.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08You're going to be performing.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10- With them.- Oh, my God!
0:10:10 > 0:10:14I just can't let my nerves get the better of me today.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17If this goes well, I can take a recording of my performance
0:10:17 > 0:10:20to London, to show people what I can do.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23- Hi, Persia. Michael Francis, very nice to meet you.- Nice to meet you.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25- I hear you have a fabulous voice. - Thank you.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27Good. Well, this is the BBC Philharmonic.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30We're delighted to be doing this with you. Let's go to work.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34So, Persia, what might be a really good idea is, now,
0:10:34 > 0:10:37just start to do some breathing. Get your breath...
0:10:37 > 0:10:39I think might have to. I think I'm going to faint!
0:10:40 > 0:10:42OK. Let's hope I don't forget the words.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44You'll remember it. You'll remember it.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50The challenge is trying to keep up with the orchestra sometimes.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53I went a bit slow, so I need to try and speed that up a bit.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56I felt like I went a bit flat at some points,
0:10:56 > 0:10:57and on the last note
0:10:57 > 0:11:01I didn't feel as strong as I should have been.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04I was like jelly, I was, like, "Uhhh!"
0:11:04 > 0:11:05Oh, no.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08I going...I bet I'm going to collapse any minute,
0:11:08 > 0:11:09my legs are just going to go...
0:11:12 > 0:11:15Over 200 people have come to the studio to hear me sing.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23- How are you, Persia? - I'm all right.
0:11:23 > 0:11:24- Good, all set? - I'm petrified!- Don't be!
0:11:24 > 0:11:27Listen, it's the same song, it's only music. You sung it so well.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29Yeah, I'm petrified, and really excited.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32Don't be petrified. You can relax, I've got you all the way.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35You can just relax and sing. There's nothing to worry about,
0:11:35 > 0:11:36it's going to be marvellous.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42APPLAUSE
0:11:58 > 0:12:05# Panis angelicus
0:12:05 > 0:12:12# Fit panis hominum
0:12:12 > 0:12:18# Dat panis coelicus
0:12:18 > 0:12:25# Figuris terminus... #
0:12:25 > 0:12:28As soon as she walked into the room, I was like jelly.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32I was really nervous. Everyone was rooting for her,
0:12:32 > 0:12:34and she just, she just went for it.
0:12:34 > 0:12:40# Manducat dominum... #
0:12:40 > 0:12:42She sings in tune, and she sings musically,
0:12:42 > 0:12:45and you can tell her instincts are very good.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48To handle this pressure, it's something that you can't teach.
0:12:48 > 0:12:49You just have to see how someone does,
0:12:49 > 0:12:51and she did very well.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55# ..humilis
0:12:58 > 0:13:04# Pauper, pauper
0:13:04 > 0:13:16# Servus et humilis. #
0:13:16 > 0:13:19I loved singing with the orchestra!
0:13:19 > 0:13:21But listening back to the recording,
0:13:21 > 0:13:24I was disappointed with my performance.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26Whenever I listen to my own voice I don't,
0:13:26 > 0:13:28I don't like listening to it.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32I was off key on one point! I hated it.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35APPLAUSE
0:13:36 > 0:13:40I sounded awful! I was off pitch!
0:13:40 > 0:13:42I was off key all the time.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51Sometimes I think my voice is rubbish when I listen to it.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54I just, you know, doubt myself.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59Lots of people think that it's a really special talent,
0:13:59 > 0:14:02but some people think I shouldn't have that talent.
0:14:03 > 0:14:08Someone said, who used to bully me, "Your voice is rubbish, it's awful.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10"I don't think you should really sing.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14"Your voice sounds like... WARBLING...like that.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16"And you should never sing again, it's that bad."
0:14:18 > 0:14:21When this person said that to me,
0:14:21 > 0:14:23I felt like giving up on myself.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30All I am is, I'm just a bit different, that's all.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37I have a group of great friends who I turn to when things get tough.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42I would say that my best friends have definitely been really
0:14:42 > 0:14:44supportive in my singing.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47Helping me to, um, be brave.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51You know, we've been best friends ever since
0:14:51 > 0:14:53we were three months old, I think.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57Persia means so much to me. As does Jack and Sal.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00And we've always been there for each other
0:15:00 > 0:15:03People think, you know, well, she's an opera singer, so she's weird.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06How does this make you feel?
0:15:06 > 0:15:09It just really hurts and...even if they're jealous,
0:15:09 > 0:15:12they shouldn't really be doing it, and it really hurts my feelings.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15- Just ignore it.- Hmm.- And if you...if it does...
0:15:15 > 0:15:17I do that, but it just carries on.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20No, if you react, they will get a kick out of it.
0:15:20 > 0:15:21And they will, you know...
0:15:21 > 0:15:25They get under your skin, then you start feeling upset,
0:15:25 > 0:15:27then they see you getting upset
0:15:27 > 0:15:29and they make fun of that as well.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31Don't give up on your singing.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34You have a lovely voice and someday you will be professional.
0:15:34 > 0:15:39I just love you so much, and I just, you know,
0:15:39 > 0:15:42I'm really going to miss you when I move to London.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44ALL: Friends forever!
0:15:49 > 0:15:53Our flat is almost packed up, and we're nearly ready for the big move.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57Now my seven years of primary school are coming to an end,
0:15:57 > 0:16:00and it's time to say goodbye to all my classmates.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04The reason that we're doing our autograph books is because
0:16:04 > 0:16:07we are all leaving primary school and year six.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13Look behind you, look what Georgia wrote.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16- "Persia is moving to London." And then I wrote a sad face.- Awww!
0:16:16 > 0:16:19Persia has been through some hard times,
0:16:19 > 0:16:25and she overcome it by being with her friends and talking to everyone.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27I put here, "Remember, believe in yourself
0:16:27 > 0:16:29"and be proud of who you are."
0:16:29 > 0:16:32And I know you've got the strength in you to be who you are.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34And sometimes you won't be like everybody else,
0:16:34 > 0:16:36and that doesn't matter because you are you.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38I know she'll be others' inspiration.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40And she's going to be my inspiration, definitely.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42Bye, guys!
0:16:42 > 0:16:43Bye, guys!
0:16:43 > 0:16:46'I'm going to miss them so much.'
0:16:47 > 0:16:49Definitely.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55I'm going to start crying now, but I don't want to.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05It is moving day today.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09I can't wait to move to London.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12I'm just so excited to move.
0:17:12 > 0:17:13To see my bedroom.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17It feels really weird, because my whole life is packed up.
0:17:17 > 0:17:21Leeds is coming to an end and London is just the beginning.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25I'm going to miss her loads.
0:17:25 > 0:17:31I've known her so long that we just... She's like family to me.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34I felt really upset when I had to say goodbye to Cat.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36I'm really going to miss you, Persia.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39I'll miss her probably more than anyone else in the whole world,
0:17:39 > 0:17:41because she really means a lot to me.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45I'm never really going to see my friends again.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48OK.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52ALL: Bye! Bye!
0:17:59 > 0:18:02- You all right, darling? - I'm quite upset.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07But we're moving on to a new stage, though,
0:18:07 > 0:18:09and I'm really excited about that.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12- New adventure, we're going to have a new adventure, aren't we?- Yeah.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14CAT MEOWS
0:18:14 > 0:18:16- Let's go. Bye, Leeds! - Come on, Voodoo!
0:18:16 > 0:18:17CAT MEOWS
0:18:17 > 0:18:20Three hours later, I've cheered up as me,
0:18:20 > 0:18:24Mum and Voodoo arrive in London to start our new life together.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27I'm really upset that I had to leave Leeds, but now I'm
0:18:27 > 0:18:30so excited, and I thought I wouldn't be this excited, but I am.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33I'm going to see my bedroom for the first time! Come on!
0:18:36 > 0:18:38I wanted a window,
0:18:38 > 0:18:41and instead of having one window I've got two!
0:18:41 > 0:18:44And I've got a window seat, so that's, like, my dream,
0:18:44 > 0:18:47the bestest dream ever, come true, nearly.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00This is the home of opera in the UK, and this is why I moved to London.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02It's magnificent!
0:19:02 > 0:19:06One day, I would like to sing in that building!
0:19:07 > 0:19:10That's why we left everyone behind.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12But it's not going to be easy.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19Are you looking forward to your new school?
0:19:19 > 0:19:21Yeah, I'm really, really excited.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24Yeah, the thing I'm nervous about is,
0:19:24 > 0:19:29you know, being, you know, called names and being, being bullied.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33- But I just hope I'll be, like, really popular in school.- 'Persia,
0:19:33 > 0:19:37'as long as you keep acting the way the way you're a friend to me,
0:19:37 > 0:19:39'you will make loads of friends.'
0:19:45 > 0:19:49I've just come back from school and I have had the best day ever!
0:19:49 > 0:19:52The thing that I really like about high school
0:19:52 > 0:19:56is that there are loads more friends to make.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00The main reason that we came to London was for my singing.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03And guess what? The recording that I made with
0:20:03 > 0:20:08the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra has been sent to some London agents!
0:20:09 > 0:20:11Shall I tell you who's heard you sing
0:20:11 > 0:20:14when you sang for the Philharmonic?
0:20:14 > 0:20:17- Yeah.- Laura Wright. - What? Really?!
0:20:17 > 0:20:19- Yeah. And do you know what?- What?
0:20:19 > 0:20:23She has invited you to come and meet her.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30# ..heart and her soul... #
0:20:30 > 0:20:34Laura is an amazing soprano singer, and I'm probably her biggest fan.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Like me, Laura wanted to be a singer when she was young,
0:20:40 > 0:20:45and won her first big singing competition when she was 15.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51- Hello!- Hi!- Good to meet you. - Good to meet you too.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54She loves you and she only just found out a few hours ago
0:20:54 > 0:20:55that she was going to meet you, so...
0:20:55 > 0:20:57- It's all a big surprise.- Yeah.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00Laura wants to show me her singing secrets.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03OK, so you're just going to get everything you're worried about
0:21:03 > 0:21:05and you're just going to go like this...WOOO-WOO!
0:21:05 > 0:21:07WOO-WOO!
0:21:07 > 0:21:09- BRRR!- BRRR!
0:21:13 > 0:21:15- EEE!- EEE!
0:21:15 > 0:21:17- OOOO!- OOOO!
0:21:17 > 0:21:19- BOTH:- WOOO!
0:21:19 > 0:21:20That's it! Beautiful!
0:21:20 > 0:21:23But its not quite what I was expecting!
0:21:23 > 0:21:27Laura is helping me with one of my favourite opera songs
0:21:27 > 0:21:30by Puccini - O Mio Babbino Caro.
0:21:30 > 0:21:38# Mi piace, e bello bello. #
0:21:38 > 0:21:39Perfect,
0:21:39 > 0:21:43but I want you to think about making the whole phrase, so that the words
0:21:43 > 0:21:47join up, so that it sounds, instead of sounding a bit disjointed,
0:21:47 > 0:21:49it's one phrase together.
0:21:49 > 0:21:50# Si, si... #
0:21:50 > 0:21:55'Persia has a beautiful voice. She's obviously very talented.'
0:21:55 > 0:21:56Change my mind.
0:21:56 > 0:22:03# E se l'amassi indarno. #
0:22:03 > 0:22:05'She needs to gain as much experience
0:22:05 > 0:22:07'as she can with different people,
0:22:07 > 0:22:09'which is why I wanted her to come and meet me today,'
0:22:09 > 0:22:11to see what it's like behind the scenes.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14See that it's a lot of hard work, but also lots of fun too.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16# Morei Mor... #
0:22:16 > 0:22:18Remember that "morir", that last word.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24'Her voice is very developed for someone of her age.'
0:22:24 > 0:22:27Quite jealous, to be honest!
0:22:27 > 0:22:29- It's been amazing to meet you. - Thank you.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31- You're incredibly talented. - Thank you.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33I'll maybe see you on stage one day, too.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Laura's taught me that you're never too young to start singing.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39She's made my hopes higher,
0:22:39 > 0:22:41she's made my dreams bigger.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43I would love to do what she does.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48Laura has really inspired me.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51I've had a few auditions, and have now landed my first gig.
0:22:51 > 0:22:56And would you believe it? It's back home in Leeds.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00I've just been asked to sing for rugby for Leeds Rhinos
0:23:00 > 0:23:03in front of 16,000 people!
0:23:04 > 0:23:07Oh, my gosh, look at the stadium!
0:23:12 > 0:23:14Oh, wow.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16You are going to be just up there.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19- Wow.- Wow.- Facing this way. - Right in the centre.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22I feel absolutely petrified.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26I feel this big.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29I feel like I'm a flea!
0:23:33 > 0:23:34I'm petrified.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37This is just a gigantic stadium.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41I mean... am I really going to do it?
0:23:43 > 0:23:47Tonight, I'll be singing the opera song I rehearsed with Laura.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51I have to sing in a foreign language, which is in Italian.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Um, so I have to remember a lot of Italian words,
0:23:54 > 0:23:59and I'm so worried that I'm going to mess up.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04It's a mega day for Persia. I'm terrified for her!
0:24:07 > 0:24:10I just hope I'm going to do Leeds proud.
0:24:15 > 0:24:21It definitely does feel like I'm coming home. It's very emotional.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24I mean, I cried when I saw my old school yesterday.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28And I just wish that, you know, my friends could see me.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37I'm so happy that I'm seeing her again.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44I can't wait until I see her soon.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46It's pretty much all she's wanted to do.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48Just sing in front of large numbers of people,
0:24:48 > 0:24:50and she's brilliant at it.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52I'm really excited.
0:24:52 > 0:24:53I know she'll do great, though.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55Guys, come on! Squish in!
0:25:09 > 0:25:11I'm actually doing it!
0:25:12 > 0:25:14Go, Persia!
0:25:14 > 0:25:17SHE WARMS UP
0:25:17 > 0:25:19MOBILE RINGS
0:25:21 > 0:25:23- 'Hi, Persia, how are you?' - I'm all right, Laura.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25'I just wanted to say, have a think about
0:25:25 > 0:25:27'all those things we talked about in our lesson.'
0:25:27 > 0:25:30- Yeah.- 'And you will be absolutely wonderful, I have no doubts.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32- 'I've got absolute faith in you.' - Thank you!
0:25:34 > 0:25:35Here I go!
0:25:44 > 0:25:48I'm going to be out there Soon. I'm so scared.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52Hugs, quickly, hugs! Bye!
0:25:59 > 0:26:02- ANNOUNCER:- Persia is an 11-year-old singer from our home turf.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05She has big dreams of being an opera star one day,
0:26:05 > 0:26:08and tonight she's going to sing in front of the biggest crowd
0:26:08 > 0:26:11of her life, so let's hear it for Persia!
0:26:11 > 0:26:14APPLAUSE
0:26:16 > 0:26:24# O mio babbino caro
0:26:24 > 0:26:33# E se l'amassi indarno
0:26:33 > 0:26:43# Mi struggo e mi tormento!
0:26:43 > 0:26:50# O dio
0:26:50 > 0:27:05# Babbo, pieta, pieta! #
0:27:05 > 0:27:07APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:27:13 > 0:27:16That felt just unbelievably amazing.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19I really want to do this for the rest of my life. I just love it.
0:27:20 > 0:27:22I am so proud of her, because
0:27:22 > 0:27:26she's gone out on that stage and just blown everyone away.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28Her voice sounded like an angel
0:27:28 > 0:27:31and like a bird, but mixed together,
0:27:31 > 0:27:35and it was just amazing. I was just going to cry
0:27:35 > 0:27:39This was the absolute best day of my life. Definitely.