Luxemburger in L.A. world talent competition finals

(ADW) "I am so happy I feel as though I'm going to explode!" Thierry Mersch kept repeating. On July 22 at 7pm in Los Angeles (which will be July 23 at 4am in the Grand Duchy), he will defend the colours of Luxembourg in “World Championships of Performing Arts”, an international competition of interpretation.

The 39 year old teacher has been singing since the age of five. But it was in 2006, during the contest “Searching the voice” at the Philharmonie de Diekirch, that everything really started for him."From there, I recorded a CD and participated in karaoke competitions. My dream was to represent Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest, but the country no longer wished to participate."

Today is a dream which he thought couldn't be achieved: being a finalist in an international competition of interpretation, (i.e. Singing songs of other artists).

Thierry Mersch brilliantly sailed through all the qualifying rounds, picked out of 82 participants in the category "30 and over," he also managed to get himself noticed in the semi-finals among the 76 competitors more than 25 years old . In the final he will compete with a half-dozen singers, but how many exactly? "I do not know! There was so much noise when the results were announced! Everybody screamed!"

Thierry Mersch will defend Luxembourg with the song by Josh Groban, You raise me up. "A spine-tingling song," as he calls it, one he sings regularly at weddings. "We have one minute to show our talent, the jury explained to us. If we exceed this time, we start losing points."

The jury is composed of fifteen professionals. "We've been told they are the crème de la crème of the music industry in the United States, even if their names are unknown”.

He has already won ... contacts

Thierry Mersch now needs rest until the final; jet lag, heat and humidity in the air all demand it. "I wanted to go to Disneyland today (Thursday) but my plans have changed!"

If he wins the World Championships of Performing Arts, Luxembourg will win the title of "grand champion of the world" a medal "presented on a podium like in sport" and one with a final worth a total $ 130,000

But as Thierry points out, he has already won ... contacts! He has been in discussions with three potential producers.

Thierry Merch returns to Luxembourg on July 26 having experienced a great competition and perhaps even winning the title of grand champion. Whatever happens wort.lu wishes him the best of luck.