Local magician Macy Hope, otherwise known as Magic Macy, is all smiles right now, after claiming the title of ‘Australian Junior Champion of Stage Magic’ at the 2019 Australian Junior Championships of Magic, held at the Melbourne Magic Festival last month.

Competing against 8 magicians who ranged in ages from 10 years to 18 years and coming from New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, this was Magic Macy’s best result, after placing third two years ago at the age of 10.

Macy’s winning act involved her developing her own prediction routine using cartoons she had drawn, which predicted things her volunteer would choose and involved an element of comedy. She had practiced this routine at a couple of events around Penrith in the lead up to the competition.

“She was in shock! I was so proud. It made all the hard work worthwhile. The acts were judged by professional magician Simon Coronel, magician/comedian/actor Lawrence Leung and Melbourne Arts Centre organiser, Emma Dodds. They were judged on 6 criteria: technical skill/handling, showmanship/presentation, entertainment value, artistic impression/routining, originality and magic atmosphere. Her prize was a trophy, $500 and the title of Australian Junior Champion of Stage Magic” said Alison Hope, Macy’s mother.

Macy’s next plans will be to work on a new routine for a show at the Nepean Rowing Club on Tuesday 1st October, which will be held to raise funds for Project Magic Australia, as well as assisting magic workshops in Winston Hills in the October holidays. Dr Adrian Sheen from Project Magic Australia has also invited her to perform at another charity event at the Lakeside Restaurant later in the year. Add to this a performance at the Special Children’s Christmas Party at Rosehill Gardens and the launch of the Penrith Kmart wishing tree and Macy is in for one busy end to a magical year.