A SINGER beat illness to triumph in a music competition.

Emily Reaves, the musical director of Honley Ladies’ Choir, scooped several awards at the Mrs Sunderland Music Festival.

She nearly had to scrap her plans to enter the contest because in the run-up to her classes she had been suffering from pleurisy.

The illness is caused by inflammation of the lungs and can result in chest pain.

Emily said: “I nearly pulled out at the last minute because I had pleurisy all week and couldn’t breathe.

“But the antibiotics kicked in and I thought I might as well go and have a go – I’m glad I did.

“It was an amazing two days. My dad, the late Dennis Bradley, was a great singer himself and would have been so proud.”

Emily, who also runs Rhythm Time music classes for children, came top in several classes.

They were the Operatic Solo, Mezzo Solo and Musical Theatre.

She was also placed second for the German Lieder class.

Emily was named winner of the Samuel Firth Rose Bowl, after battling it out against winners from all the previous solo classes.