There's no business like show business goes the old song. That proved true for young Zoe Mace yesterday as she and her fellow performers put on quite a charity show for more than 2,000 people at Oxford's New Theatre.

The Zoe Mace Stagecoach Charity Spectacular yesterday was a show stopper with the precocious talent of 11-year-old Zoe, from Freeland, shining through.

Backed by 500 young students from the Stagecoach schools in Oxford, Abingdon, Witney, Abingdon, Aylesbury and Bourton-on-the-Water, the two shows pulsed from start to finish with song and dance from classical to pop, operas to hit musicals.

After the concert, which was raising money for several charities, Zoe said: "It was my first concert as the lead and I was very privileged. The support the show received from the Stagecoach boys and girls was wonderful to watch."

Zoe admitted to suffering from butterflies in her stomach as she stood in the wings. She said: "I was very nervous but it's only natural. Once I moved on to the stage and began singing my nerves vanished."

But probably the most nerve racking moment was when Zoe and Lucy Furneaux sang and performed as tramps in Couple of Swells.

Zoe admitted: "We did not rehearse so it was touch and go in the matinee performance but there were no problems and the audience liked it very much."

After the show, sponsored by the Co-op, Zoe's mother Linda said: "I was so proud of my daughter and pleased for everyone who took part in what was a very stressful show organising so many people.

"But it was marvellous not bad for a bunch of amateurs."

Andy Smith, from Barleyfield Way in Witney, watched his daughter Hannah, 15, sing and dance.

He said: "I was so impressed by the whole show and Zoe's voice for an eleven-year-old is amazing."

Laura Tunnah, seven, from Hedgemead Avenue, Abingdon, danced in Over the Rainbow.

Her mother Nicky said: "I knew about Zoe but it was the first time I had heard her sing. She was amazing."

Zoe started fundraising for charities which supported her sister Jodie, who had Down's Syndrome and heart problems and died last year, aged four.

Money goes to the Oxford Children's Hospital campaign, Oxfordshire Down's Syndrome Association, the children's bereavement charity SeeSaw, Helen and Douglas House hospices and InterAct, a drama company for young people with special needs.

Zoe has appeared in various concerts, recorded two albums and in a year has helped raise £100,000. Organisers hope Sunday's shows will have raised at least £12,000.