Lara, who turns 14 next week, has been learning singing since the age of four.

The Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts year 8 student is continuing the tradition this week at the Wollongong Eisteddfod.

Lara performed in the country music solo on Wednesday, and on Thursday she will present a pop vocal ballad and compete in the junior pop championship.

Next week, she is back at the eisteddfod in the musical theatre in costume solo.

‘‘I enjoy all genres of singing but I especially like performing up tempo songs and ballads,’’ she said.

Lara learns singing at the Encore Performing Arts Studio at Figtree with teacher Kristy Williams.

The teenager loves the spotlight and has been performing at the Wollongong Eisteddfod since she was seven, in addition to various other local eisteddfods.

Performance opportunities were an important part of honing her craft, she said.

‘‘My teacher holds little eisteddfod days in which we practise songs on the stage and we get reports and feedback,’’ she said.

‘‘We also have workshops at the studio where we learn about performance and singing technique.’’

Lara said there was nothing quite like being on stage singing.

‘‘At first I get a bit nervous but then I start to get into the song and the experience becomes exhilarating because it’s really fun up there on stage,’’ she said.

In other Wollongong Eisteddfod news, St Pius X Catholic School at Unanderra took out first place in the junior vocals choir section held at the Wollongong Town Hall on Wednesday.

The St Michael’s Catholic School Choir Thirroul was awarded second place; and highly commended awards were presented to the St John’s Junior Vocal Group Dapto and Nazareth Catholic Primary School Choir.