Grade 1 to The Voice Kids Winner: Justine Afante's Musical Journey
When Justine Afante stepped onto The Voice Kids UK stage in 2020, she carried with her years of musical training, countless hours of practice, and the confidence built through her LCME journey from Grade 1 to diploma level. Her victory as The Voice Kids UK 2020 winner wasn't just a moment of triumph—it was the culmination of a musical education that began when she was just 10 years old, guided by her dedicated teacher Catrin Harries, a professional singing teacher based in the Swansea area who offers high-quality singing lessons in a wide range of styles.
The beginning: Spotting special potential
Justine's teacher, Catrin, recalls their first meeting eight years ago: "My first initial impression of her as a young student was that I could see that she had something special, great potential that I could work with. Her voice improved, developed and strengthened with vocal technique."
For Justine, coming from a musical family, the decision to pursue formal vocal training felt natural. "Music has always been a part of my life," she explains. "I was inspired to not only sing with passion, but to understand and learn more about the techniques behind my vocal ability. I wanted to challenge myself to sing not just for leisure, but for qualifications which would enable me to develop as a musician."
Growing through the grades
Catrin's approach to teaching Justine evolved carefully over the years. "When Justine started, she was very young, so I had to be careful not to push her voice and get her to understand the importance of vocal technique, support, breathing, etc. Through the years, as her voice started to develop, we worked on increasing the range and use of colour and control in the voice."
The journey wasn't without its challenges. For Justine, the biggest hurdle was overcoming her nerves. "The most challenging aspect was my nerves," she admits. "I began my early grades as a very nervous and shy girl in primary school, who didn't have as much control over my voice. Now, achieving my diploma in my last year of secondary school, I have grown to be more confident in my capabilities as a vocalist."
Building confidence for The Voice Kids
As Justine progressed through her grades, something remarkable was happening—she was building the confidence that would later serve her on one of television's biggest stages. "Doing the singing exams helped Justine grow with confidence," Catrin observes. "Also, singing in church and school concerts really helped set a platform for The Voice Kids."
When Justine reached diploma level, Catrin knew she was working with a truly special talent. "When Justine began working on her Diploma, we were working on vocal runs that were needed at a diploma level."
The connection between her formal training and her television success was clear to Justine: "Growing in confidence through my musical examinations helped me to get on The Voice Kids stage and perform to a larger crowd. Working on my technique, movement and emotion to prepare for my exams was something that I had brought with me when I was on The Voice Kids."
The power of technique and emotion
One particular song holds special significance in Justine's journey. "A particular performance that stood out to me was my rendition of 'Don't You Worry Bout a Thing' which was originally sung by Stevie Wonder, but I sang Tori Kelly's version," she recalls. "I sang that song as one of my exam pieces, but that ended up being a duet that I sang on The Voice Kids with Pixie Lott herself in the finals, which is truly memorable."
This example of how her formal training directly translated to her television success truly demonstrates the practical value of structured musical education.
Through her years of training, Justine learned a fundamental lesson about performance. "My most valuable skill that I've learnt is that technique is what intrigues a listener, but emotion is what makes them keep listening," she explains. "I was taught to keep my singing to the best standard while telling a story to an audience."
Victory and beyond
When Justine was crowned The Voice Kids UK 2020 winner, both student and teacher experienced the moment differently due to lockdown restrictions. "I was very proud of Justine for winning The Voice Kids," says Catrin. "It was a difficult time for all as it was during the end of lockdown. We were having weekly lessons on Zoom. As the competition was during lockdown, I was unable to attend or celebrate together, but we did support her by watching on TV."
For Justine, the victory was transformative: "I joined The Voice Kids not expecting to reach the end. I was purely there for the experience, and so winning was the best feeling. All my self-doubt from the beginning of my musical journey had completely been changed to self-belief, and I am so grateful to this day that I was someone who held that title of being The Voice Kids Winner."
Inspiring the next generation
Justine's success has had a ripple effect that extends far beyond her own achievement. "Justine's success story has influenced my approach to teaching," Catrin reflects. "It also proves that with talent and hard work, you can really achieve your dream. My pupils all love hearing about Justine's journey and The Voice Kids. They look up to her and hope to follow in her footsteps one day."
For young musicians just beginning their own journeys, Justine offers this advice: "My main advice is to just believe in yourself. It was one of the most challenging things about my singing journey, and I still sometimes worry before my performances to this day. However, once you realise that only you are in control of how you are going to perform, that freedom to own the stage is what keeps you going."
A circle of gratitude
As Justine reflects on her journey from a nervous 10-year-old to a confident diploma-holding Voice Kids winner, her gratitude is evident: "I would like to say a thank you to my singing teacher, Catrin Harries, for allowing me to grow not just as a vocalist, but also a person. She was a teacher who believed in me when I struggled to believe in my capabilities, and thanks to her, I was able to complete my LCME journey. I am so thankful for achieving these qualifications, so thank you LCME."
Justine's story demonstrates the transformative power of structured musical education combined with dedicated teaching and personal determination. From Grade 1 to diploma level, her LCME journey provided the technical foundation and confidence that ultimately helped her shine on one of the UK's most popular television programmes—proving that with the right support and commitment, dreams really can become reality.