Beyonce

R&B star BEYONCE KNOWLES was so amazed by the talent at her backing band auditions that she has decided to expand the all-girl band.

Beyonce was searching for female musicians with "a look", to play drums, keyboards, bass, guitar, saxophone, trumpet, horns and percussion during her upcoming tour.

Because of the talent, she has added three more members to the planned nine-girl line-up because there were too many perfect candidates at the final New York City audition on Saturday.

She tells MTV, "I wanted to get together a group of fierce, talented, hungry, beautiful women and form an all-girl band.

"I'm all about female empowerment, I'm all about pushing the envelope. I know it's my responsibility to do something different.

"I said, 'I want a band, I want something different.' I had worldwide auditions; people flew in from Atlanta, Houston, Israel, all over the world.

"It was extremely difficult. I wanted only a nine-piece band, but the girls were so amazing, I couldn't decide. I think I'm going to wind up having 12 people, because (some of the contenders) were just brilliant.

"It's a thing called star quality, it's a thing you can't put your finger on, can't describe. When they were playing, I said, 'I want to see y'all battle.' I brought in two of every instrument and that's how I chose.

"It was so entertaining, the energy, seeing the girls battle... God, it was the best. It was magical."