User:Andrewjmarlow/Draft Kirsten Joy

Kirsten Joy (also known as Kirsten Joy Gill) is an English singer-songwriter who came to prominence after taking part in the 2012 inaugural series of the singing talent contest The Voice UK. Having been chosen by judge Jessie J in the programme's 'blind auditions' round, Kirsten joined other contenstants on Jessie's team to compete for a place in the finals. During the 'battle rounds' Kirsten lost out to fellow contestant Toni Warne.

Family
Kirsten, who was born in South Africa to missionary parents, is from Walderslade, a large suburb to the south of Chatham in the unitary authority of Medway in South East England. She was educated at Rochester Grammar School. .

Music Career
Music featured throughout Kirsten's school life through plays, assemblies local concerts, including in Rochester Cathedral, singing at church at taking part in local talent competitions. She was a contestant in a 'Star4Medway', a local talent competition promoted by the Mayor of Medway. This lead to the opportunity for Kirsten to sing one of her own songs opening on the main stage at the Kent Music Festival at Port Lympne in 2005, where acts included Girls Aloud and Lemar.

Before starting out as a session singer, Kirsten performed as a member of the ACM Gospel Choir in 2006. It was an extra-curricular activity at the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM), a music academy located in Guildford, Surrey, England.

Kirsten, Mark De-Lisser and other ACM students featured on the BBC’s talent-themed television show Last Choir Standing in 2008. The ACM Gospel Choir reached the finals of the show.

An article for Kentonline reported that Kirsten had 'shared a stage with Gary Barlow, supported Girls Aloud and has sung in front of the Queen'.

Kirsten was one of the team of backing vocalists for Josh Dubovie, the singer who represented the UK at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest, held in Oslo, Norway, in May 2010.

In 2012, the UK version of The Voice was broadcast on BBC television and Kirsten Joy took part as a solo contestant. She succeeded in the 'blind audition' round in attracting the attention of Jessie J and joined Jessie's team to compete against other teams for judges Tom Jones (singer), Will.i.am and Danny O'Donoghue. At the 'battle round' stages, Jessie chose to pit Kirsten's talent against fellow contestant Toni Warne. Jessie chose Toni to go through but praised Kirsten's vocal talent.

Music releases
Kirsten released her debut EP 'Written in the Sky' in February 2013. It was produced by Ben Collier and Nari Man. Four of the five tracks are original songs: 'Written in the Sky', 'Remembered', 'Castles', 'Good News'; the final track 'The Wolves' being a cover of a Ben Howard song.