A TEENAGE singer will perform in front of thousands of people at one of the biggest arenas in the country, after reaching the final of a nationwide talent contest.

Karina Scuteri, 19, will take to the stage at London’s O2 Arena next month as she bids to win the Open Mic 2010 competition.

If she wins, she will walk away with a £30,000 recording contract and 100-date UK tour.

Miss Scuteri, of Water Eaton Road, North Oxford, said she was “incredibly excited” about the final, and performing in the London venue, the former Millennium Dome.

She said: “It really is a dream come true.

“The O2 is one of the leading music venues, not just in England, but in the whole world.

“So many incredible artists have performed there and it’s just amazing to think I’m going to have that opportunity.”

Ms Scuteri, who moved to the city from her native Australia nine months ago, was one of 8,000 hopefuls who auditioned earlier this year.

After three separate auditions, she was voted through to the final on Saturday, January 15.

She describes her style as contemporary pop, but admitted she had not yet decided what song to sing for the final.

She said: “I’m going to work as hard as I can over the next six weeks to make sure I’m absolutely ready for the final.”

Open Mic UK is the biggest music talent competition in the country for unsigned singers and solo artists.

It is open to all musical genres, from rap and hip hop to acoustic and classical.

Prizes also include master classes from music professionals, clothing, recording studio time, a trip to Dublin to record a music video.

The event’s director, Chris Grayston, said: “It’s a fantastic achievement to make it to the grand final and the best unsigned acts in the country are now getting set to perform at one of the best live music venues in the world.

“They’ll be showcasing their music to lots of industry representatives and the media, which isn’t something you get to do every day.”