A young singer will be hoping to jazz up a charity talent competition next month when she takes to the stage to sing.

Loussin-Torah Pilikian from New Barnet works by day as a teaching assistant at Highgate CofE School, but the 21-year-old has ambitions to become a singer.

She will be among the competitors at ‘North London’s Got Talent’, a show ran and organised by North London Hospice. The Hospice, which operates across Barnet, Enfield and Haringey, is running the talent competition to raise money to help care for its patients.

Ms Pilikian said: “I used to sing in school, but then I went to university and just got on with my degree. My friends told me I should start singing, so I joined the university’s Gilbert and Sullivan Society and began doing it more. I’ve done a few gigs, but nothing like this before as I haven’t had the confidence.

“I will be performing ‘At Last’ by Etta James. It’s a jazzy song, a classic wedding song. It sits with my voice, it’s very comfortable and nice to perform. It is a song that I am comfortable with.

“My grandmother had cancer and spent time in North London Hospice. I was very young at the time and don’t remember it, but my mum says he was cared for in a supportive and loving environment, the best my family could hope for.

“Death is a very uncomfortable subject but it is important that people talk about it. It is really special what they do and I know that the money raised is being used very well.

“I have been preparing for a few months. I’m always a bit worried – should I change the song? Am I doing the right thing? At the moment it is a mix of nerves and excitement.”

North London's Got Talent will take place at the artsdepot in North Finchley on Saturday, 6 February.