Keen busker's star quality wins through

Olivia Karlsson wowed the crowd during her busking performance yesterday and walked away with the big prize. Photo / File

Napier woman Olivia Karlsson is looking forward to the summer again as it means she can step out and do a spot of busking for a spot of spending money.

Which she did, albeit in mid-winter, at the Napier "Busk Off' staged yesterday as part of Napier Business Inc's winter entertainment programme.

And she came away with more than just a few coins and notes - the 20-year-old took away the $500 prize, along with a string of accolades from those who watched her deliver Whitney Houston's Greatest Love of All, Celine Dion's Power of Love and I Dreamed a Dream from the musical Les Miserables.

While the money was a welcome boost for the third-year Massey University science degree student, she was modest about her win and said she simply enjoyed being able to have the opportunity to sing and share songs which were challenging and full of heart and feeling.

"If I left with two dollars I would have still been pretty happy," she said.

"I just love to sing."

Which she began doing at the age of five, when her mum arranged singing lessons for her, although she eventually lost interest.

"But when I was about 15 or 16 I started again and I found the confidence."

She took part in a school singing competition at Iona College and fell in love with the song she sang - Memory from the musical Cats.

"I had no nerves - I just enjoyed being able to sing."

Her clear talent saw her appear in several college shows as well as musical talents events and while studying for a science degree, and a possible year of teaching after that, many of her friends reckon she should be going for a degree in singing.

"I'd like to get into singing but I want to get that degree behind me first," she said. "I'll be doing some summer busking and, at the moment, a friend and I are recording a CD so, hopefully, that will be ready for then."

Napier Business Inc manager Zoe Barnes said she, and a large number of people who took in some of the four heats of four acts, were "blown away" by the talent on offer.

"Every single one was just so impressive and I will definitely be keeping them all on my books," she said.

Part of business inc's vision is to spark up the CBD during weekends and musical events would be part of that.

Sixteen acts performed and the crowd numbers, despite the chill in the air, were good, Ms Barnes said, adding that, in summer, such an event would likely be "huge".

"I think it would be incredibly popular and it would be silly not to stage it in summer."

Each performer was judged by the public and in the end the quality was clear, as there were only 10 votes separating the winner and fourth-placed performer.

Ms Barnes said the event, along with Fairy Rosebud shows for children, as well as face-painting, sausage sizzles, play zones and the chance to play on a real fire engine, drew large numbers into the central city.