THE deadline to get in on the act at the Lord Mayor of York’s Charity Gala is approaching fast.

This month The Press launched a competition to select one more talented act to appear as a wild card on the 7pm bill at York Barbican on March 29, joining a specially-commissioned choir, York Civic Orchestra, York Concert Band, The Grand Old Uke Of York and Sam Johnson’s Big Band.

The latest applicants are former Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Gregory Pritchard and 2011 Community Idol winner Rachel Skelton.

Gregory is now a mature student at the University of York, reading music. “My first study is voice/opera and I train vocally under the instruction of Linda Hutchison at the Guildhall London,” he says.

“Previously I’ve studied at the Dennis O’Neil and Kiri Te Kanewa academy in Wales and the National Opera Studio, London, and I’m also studying a part-time Shakespeare course at RADA in London.” He describes his performance history as “varied.”

“It ranges from being in the live semi-final show of Britain’s Got Talent 2009 to performing for the royal family in Thailand and being employed by them,” says Gregory. “I’ve also been part of many theatre shows and TV programmes and I’m now specialising in the baroque and early counter-tenor repertoire, here at York, where I’ve received the National Scholarship Award.”

You can find out more about Gregory on his website, gregpritchard.co and watch the video of his initial Britain’s Got Talent audition in 2009 on YouTube. “My voice has changed quite significantly since then through the expert tuition that I’ve received,” he says.

Rachel Skelton, from York, won the 2011 Community Idol grand final at the Grand Opera House, York, with her rendition of Time To Say Goodbye, a victory from which you can see a clip below.

“I sing classical, but I also sing pop, bringing out a music video in 2013 called Airborne, a song that was written for me by Heath Lanzillotti and Mark Hadley.”

You can watch this on YouTube. Rachel is an aspiring touring and recording artist who performs both original songs and covers, playing at festivals and music venues around Britain, most memorably singing at Bishopthorpe Palace.

“I’ve been working with Heath Lanzillotti on music and have big plans on the horizon to get my music out to the world,” she says.

“I had a mini-Yorkshire school tour called Airborne Tour, creating awareness about the negative impacts of drugs on young people and I’ve supported many charities throughout my singing career, raising both awareness and money for national and small charities across the UK.”

It is not too late to add your act to the list of nominations for the wild card spot, but hurry to meet Saturday’s deadline. The competition winner will be chosen from a submitted YouTube clip of each performer by a panel chaired by The Press’s arts editor, Charles Hutchinson. Entries must be emailed to charles.hutchinson@nqyne.co.uk by Saturday, January 31, or go to yorkpress.co.uk/getinontheact to enter online.

Please note, entry is not restricted to musicians. “The successful act could shine in a variety of areas, from magic or juggling to singing and dancing,” says event organiser Graham Bradbury.

Gala tickets are on sale on 0844 854 2757 or at yorkbarbican.co.uk