This year, as my first experience of Monmouth's Got Talent (MGT), I was lucky enough to be given a special insight into the show after being asked to take a place on the judging panel.

Sitting alongside conductor Grant Llewellyn and renowned opera star Sara Fulgoni, the pressure was on as the very best of Monmouth waited behind the scenes, and the packed Blake Theatre sparked with excitement.

Friends and family of the hopeful contestants were all there, willing their favourite to wow the crowds.

Admittedly, I have never been to MGT before, and had no idea what to expect, but I was blown away by the high level of talent on display.

All three schools offered acts that have a huge future ahead of them, but a decision had to be made, and first place was awarded to 16-year-old ballet dancer Katie Burton.

The entire judging panel agreed that Katie, who is in Year 12 at Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls (HMSG), danced well beyond her years, with captivating talent and a mature expressive way of sharing her choreography with the crowd.

Second place was awarded to the Celtic-sounding tones of Chloe Mansell and Becky Welton, both Year 11 at Monmouth Comprehensive School (MCS).

The pair performed only second on the bill, yet their pretty and enchanting duet, sung at the piano, stuck with the judges until the end of the show.

Stinkin' Garbage, also from MCS, performed last to the audience – shaking the building's foundations and getting everyone moving with their innovative drumming using abandoned dustbins.

The pair, Freddy Whaley and Rhys Masmussen, Year 12, even created an unusual light show with neon drum sticks.

Although there were only three places up for grabs, a special mention went to MCS's Bronwyn Davies, who, as the youngest in the competition in Year 7, burst out of her tiny shell on stage with a powerful voice and exciting stage presence.

All three judges felt that this future star deserved a special mention, as one to watch for the future.

All 12 acts brought a great evening's entertainment to the theatre, and showed how special Monmouth is, its youth uniting to show off its talent and give the audience a fun night, rather than creating rivalry and hostility, the case in many towns.

If a prize could have been awarded to the evening's hosts – Jessica Barradale-Smith, head girl from MCS; Isabel Wood, head girl from HMSG; Tom Hall, deputy head boy from Monmouth School and Ted Senior, head boy from MCS – it certainly would have been.

The confident and charismatic group became an act in themselves, as they kept the show running smoothly while making everyone laugh out loud during every interlude.

Victoria Hallifax