EDINBURGH, Scotland: They said she would never talk, let alone sing with the stars. But an autistic teenager from Edinburgh has defied the odds.

Samantha Ruderham, 14, has been invited to sing in front of 2,000 people with a top opera singer and jazz pianist.

After giving a "hair-raising" performance at an autism fundraiser in Fife, one onlooker, who happened to be the editor of an autism magazine and chief executive of the Autism Foundation, promised to make her a star.

Now the young girl dreams of defying the odds and following in the footsteps of West Lothian sensation Susan Boyle.

Samantha, who still struggles to talk but is described as having a "powerful" and "beautiful" singing voice, is due to perform Snow Patrol's famous track Run  later covered by Leona Lewis  with opera singer Geoff Sewell and the autistic classical pianist and jazz player, Derek Paravicini, who is supported by Jools Holland.

Samanatha's mother, Sharon, of Craigour Road, said:  "They told us she would never talk and that we should learn sign language, but we refused to think like that. Then one day, when she was four, she just burst into song. She did Silent Wings by Tina Turner. From then on, we couldn't shut her up.  She was singing before she could talk properly."

Sharon added: "There are two sides to Sam. There is the low-functioning autism side, but then there is this breathtaking voice that would rival almost anybody. She sings beautifully, like a little angel. She even taught herself to play her brother's keyboard three years ago."

Samantha, who last year recorded a ten-track pop album, I Have A Voice, to raise money for Kaimes
School, had only recently started performing in front of crowds. Although this will be a record audience for Samantha, her mother is confident the young performer will cope.

She said: "She's a little show-off, in the nicest way. Her condition hasn't stopped her enjoying herself and building confidence."

Polly Tommey, editor of the Autism File international magazine, said she was amazed when she heard Samantha sing.

She said: "I couldn't believe it. I'll admit, when she stood up I didn't expect it at all and was praying that it wouldn't be a disaster, but the hairs stood up on the back of my neck. I invited her down to play at the International Autism Conference immediately. It's quite a feat for a little girl to play with such big names and I'm confident she'll get spotted very soon."

Geoff Sewell, who has an autistic daughter, was one of the creators and founding member of the international sensation, Amici Forever, the world's first opera band.

Derek Paravicini conquered the world of jazz despite being blind and suffering from learning difficulties. He is currently recording a Christmas CD.

The three-day event takes place from 23-25 October.

(Source:  Edinburgh Evening News, October 1, 2009)