Sahara McDonald has been crowned the Ultimate Muso of 2012 after a hard-fought contest on Friday night and wins the chance to professionally record one of her original songs in Studio 183.
The seven judges and a packed Youth Booth audience watched all five finalists perform their original songs and covers.
The 17-year-old singer-songwriter-guitarist impressed the most.
The former New Zealand's Got Talent contestant was also awarded the best acoustic prize, which consisted of vouchers for It Might Get Loud music store.
Entertainers Lindsay and Ailsa Woods, of party band LA Social Club, told the crowd on behalf of all the judges that Sahara sang and played beautifully and had the best connection with the audience.
The Fletcherz, made up of Sam Maxwell (17), George Hartshorn (16), Jacob Sheehy (17) and Damon Spijkerbosch (16), won the best band award and earned themselves the opportunity to play live on stage during the warm-up for New Year's Eve celebrations in Queenstown.
The Woods said the "rock 'n' roll stalwarts get better every year" and applauded their "swagger" and songwriting skills.
Trumpet player Tom Gray (18) and saxophonist Jonty Norton (17), of the seven-piece roots soul band the Alpine Effect, were praised by the judges for best buzz after clearly enjoying themselves and getting into the groove on stage.
