The competition showcased talent from around the world and earlier in the year Jess was selected as a finalist in the 2020 Solo Talent Show category .

This year's competition moved to an online format as a result of Covid-19.

She found out a few days ago she had been awarded second place and said "it was a bit of a shock at the time."

Jess found out about the competition through the Wingecarribee Vocal Muster just a few days before the application period ended and submitted her video in November.

Thinking that would be the end of it, she was surprised to receive an email saying she was a finalist.

"I thought I'd never hear from them again. I thought I'd submit it and then didn't think there was much chance of getting to the final round, she said.

"I had to kind of sit there and read it a couple of times, like this is really happening."

After entering the competition, Jess said she had no expectations about how she would go and thought even third place would be good.

But she went one better and "was pretty pleased with that".

Her video is now up on the website and she has been sent a diploma of her achievement.

She said she recently auditioned for the Create and Celebrate music competition run by council and would keep an eye out for anything over the school holidays.

Jess first got into music playing the guitar.

It was not until she was part of a school musical that she realised her passion and talent for singing.

Following her first musical in Year 7, Jess did another a couple of years later.

She then started singing lessons, got into busking and did some local gigs - she has been performing at Schmokin' Aus in Berrima for the past few months.

Jess also joined the Wingecarribee Vocal Muster, which she said had offered her many opportunities.

"It's just been a chance to really branch out more. I've met a lot of other musicians my age, a lot of other really talented singers and I hear what they do and how that can change what I do and how their style influences mine," she said.

"It's more ways to branch out and try more things and see where it is I want to go with my music. It's definitely just experimenting at this stage because I know I love a lot of different things. It's just figuring out what I want to do with it."

And having tried so many different things, Jess said she enjoyed them all.

"I get a lot of energy from making people happy so if I'm busking and I have people around me who are really enjoying it or if I'm doing a musical theatre piece and everyone knows the piece or everyone's really enjoying it, that's what makes me happy."

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