A 32-year-old mother of three from Audley, near Newcastle-under-Lyme who was born blind, thrilled the nation when she shared first prize in Channel 4's talent search Operatunity programme in 2003.

Soprano Denise Leigh became interested in music early on and did not let her blindness get in the way of doing what she wanted. When she was 16 years old she was talent spotted when she was narrator in a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The Gatsby Trust, acting for the Sainsbury's Organisation, offered her sponsorship.

The renowned teacher Clare Hogan Taylor took her on and Denise's talent began to flower. Denise also played cornet with Britain's leading brass bands, but singing was her real passion and she decided to concentrate on taking herself to the top.

Denise went on to perform at English National Opera's (ENO) home base, the London Coliseum, and with numerous other top orchestras, such as The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, at leading venues, including The Royal Albert Hall. She performs on radio and TV and has given recitals for Seeability at St James Palace and Kensington Palace in the presence of members of the Royal Family including the Queen, Prince Edward and the Duchess of Gloucester, at Arley Hall in Cheshire before an audience of 7,000 people for The Francis House Children's Hospice.

Her hit CD with her fellow winner of Operatunity, Jane Gilchrist, has been nominated in the best album category of the Classical BRITS awards. There are now plans to make a Hollywood film of the story of Denise's life.

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