Photo RTP, Portuguese press

10 years old Jorge Leiria will represent Portugal at JESC 2007 with "So quero e cantar" (I only want to sing). He won with 15.4% of votes. Second was Joana Nascimento and Filipa Sousa finished 3rd.

Jorge Duarte dos Santos Leiria was born on the 21st of April, 1997, in the city of Torres Vedras, but he actually lives in a place called Miragaia, in the city of Lourinha.

Jorge goes to school at Escola Dr. Afonso Rodrigues Pereira and he is now on the 5th grade. He also attends Conservatorio de Torres Vedras, a music school, where he is learning music, how to play the piano and he is also having choir lessons. At school his favourite classes are History and English language.

When he's home, he loves his Playstation... You won't see him for hours if he's playing "Simms" or any soccer game - he himself was a federate soccer player until last year. His parents describe him as very quiet boy that is able to be on his own since he was a baby. Favourite food? A real simple answer for Jorge: "Bacalhau а Braz", a typical Portuguese meal, where you cook the codfish with olive oil, onions, small potato chips and egg.

His interest for music started when he was only three years old: he used to perform at kindergarten for his teachers and mates.

"In 2006 I was invited to attend the first festival, as my friend Daniela was participating there. I was there, I liked it and I decided to participate myself. I started to write the song with my friend Simao Cardoso, we sent it in, we waited and later I was very surprised when they told me it was selected! Now it will be difficult to win, but I don't feel any pressure as I don't come to win here, but just to take part. But it will be cool if I won!", commented Jorge prior to the contest.

Every week Jorge moves from his hometown Lourinha to Torres Vedras to study music. He also is a member of music chorus and plays saxophone. In this activities he has full support of his parents Fernando and Elisa Leiria. "I was looking on my sister Patricia dancing and singing and I started to imitate her", explains Jorge how he started involvement with music. "But I don't know how to explain where from comes this talent", he adds. Later he took part in competition "Novos Talentos" in his home town and got good result.

Prior to the contest he has been working with teacher Galarza Ramon and singer Anabela, who chose him from all candidates.

Uma vontade enorme para vencer
Para seguir o caminho
Longo a percorrer
Ter coragem para seguir em frente
Olhar o futuro

Com a certeza do presente
O meu destino és tu
Já nada nos vai separar
Segues-me para todo o lado
E eu só quero é cantar

Photo RTP

photo: hi5.com