An 18-year-old university student, Emma Muscat, has made it into this year’s edition of the long-running Italian competitive television show Amici, beating hundreds of Italian hopefuls to get there. 

Ms Muscat signed up for the demanding, high-quality talent show after a scout suggested that she audition after coming across her original music on her social media websites.

While the singer initially failed to be chosen and came back to Malta thinking her Amici adventure had come to an end, the showrunners reached out a few weeks later, urging her to take part in a one-to-one challenge that could secure her a spot in the finals.

Taking to the Amici stage alongside her direct competitor, Ms Muscat wowed judges with her rendition of a song by American artist Alicia Keys.

Emma has been playing the piano since she was a little girl, getting distinctions at every level

“Emma has been playing the piano since she was a little girl, getting distinctions at every level. Singing seemed to come naturally to her despite not having any formal training,” her father, Conrad Muscat, told this newspaper, reminiscing on the days when as a three-year-old she would stand at the piano, banging on the keys.

Since she is currently at the Amici school in Italy, Ms Muscat has had little contact with her parents and her manager, Keith Kiko Muscat, but they insist that so far it seems she has been receiving very positive feedback from her tutors and the other competitors.

“For someone like Emma, it’s about doing what she loves, not about the competition, and what she loves is making music. She’s a perfectionist, something that is evident in her original music,” her manager said.

While Ms Muscat is new to television competitions, she is used to performing on stages abroad, having sung in Liverpool, Rome and London.

Amici 2017 marks the first time the long-running show has been open to international competitors, so it is expected to reach an even greater audience.

“She’s very happy so far, and the feedback she’s received has been very positive. Her following on social media has also exploded since she joined the show as she gains more and more fans,” her manager said.