A local teenage musician is through to the Open Mic UK competition grand finals that are taking place in the New Year.
![Local schoolboy has been kicking up a storm at Open Mic UK semi-finals [Photography by Tom Auton]](https://cardiffjournalism.co.uk/altcardiff/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2014/11/tom-auton.jpg)
Tom Auton, a 15-year-old singer songwriter from Cardiff, impressed the judges at the semi finals of Open Mic UK.
He is now through to the grand finals taking place at Birmingham NEC on 24 January 2015.
![Tom Auton - 15-year-old singer songwriter for Cardiff hopes to turn his passion for music into a career. [Photography by Tom Auton]](https://cardiffjournalism.co.uk/altcardiff/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2014/11/10478157_729851757063266_5320946888911771836_n.jpg)
Tom has been playing guitar since he was 10-years-old and has been writing songs since the age of 12.
He said, “I have always loved music and there has never been any other obvious career choice for me.”
Tom gigs regularly and sings at local charity events, which has helped him to improve and added to his confidence. In terms of the future, he said, “I simply want to have a successful career in the music industry and carry on enjoying what I do.”
Check out Tom Auton’s latest tracks below: