Rhydian
Rhydian is a Welsh baritone and crossover artist, originally from Sennybridge, Powys. Rhydian won a bursary to the Birmingham Conservatoire at University of Central England, graduating in 2007 with First Class Honours.
Classically trained, Rhydian rose to fame on The X Factor later in 2007, where he reached the Final and went on to become a leading recording artist. Of his two albums, the first went platinum and the second included collaborations with classical icons Kiri Te Kanawa and Bryn Terfel.
Rhydian has toured the UK and made many gala and charity appearances in his native Wales and at the Royal Albert Hall, London. In October 2008 he entertained an audience of over 30,000 with his rendition of Music of the Night at Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 60th Birthday Party in Hyde Park.
Rhydian is certainly no stranger to the stage having also starred in a major arena tour of Jeff Wayne’s ‘The War of the Worlds – Alive on Stage!’ and is currently performing the role of Khashoggi on the UK tour of We Will Rock You.
Rhydian’s new album ‘Waves’ will be released on 1st August 2011.
Elysium III
Elysium III is made up of three beautiful classically-trained singers: Ceri Ann Gregory, Annalise Whittlesea and Amelia Whiteman. United by a love for both their roots as classical performers and for the grit and power of the greatest classic rock anthems, Elysium III look certain to take their inspired blend of the two genres to a huge worldwide audience with their new album ‘Rock Diva’.
Alumni of the Royal College Of Music and the Royal Academy of Music, the girls’ sincere enthusiasm and affinity for both rock and opera shines through every gloriously extravagant and exquisitely melodic second of this sumptuous collection of timeless songs. Elysium III look certain to establish themselves as an unassailable musical force in 2011, entertaining audiences with an exhilarating and utterly fresh musical experience.
Mike Doyle
Mike Doyle is one of Wales’ most loved all-round entertainers – a comedian, vocalist and broadcaster. Originally from Carmarthen, but now based in Bridgend, Mike made his debut in television back in 1988, winning the BBC’s ‘Opportunity Knocks’.
Since then Mike has gone on to entertain many an audience, appearing in many pantomimes and standup comedy shows including his very own televised series ‘The Mike Doyle Show’ which aired on HTV (ITV Wales) in 2002. Over the years, Mike has worked for BBC Radio Wales, 106.3 Bridge FM, 102.1 Bay Radio and can also currently be heard as the comical voice of ‘Trevor’ in the Trade Centre Wales car adverts!
Musically, Mike has appeared in West End shows including playing the Big Bopper in Buddy and playing Vince Fontaine in Grease. He also released his own album, Every Word, in 1999. On stage, Mike continues to astound audiences with his vocal ability and engaging personality. With a wealth of experience, Mike is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!
The Three Welsh Tenors
Three Welsh tenors, yet surprisingly different voices which complement each other perfectly. With a programme comprising of operatic classics, hymns, old Welsh songs and medleys, they have something to appeal to all tastes and to suit every occasion.
The Three Welsh Tenors, Rhys Meirion, Aled Hall and Alun Rhys-Jenkins, first came together to sing as a trio for the Celtfest extravaganza in Cardiff as part of a spectacular line up of stars to entertain rugby fans prior to a Wales vs New Zealand match. They blew the audience away with their energetic and entertaining programme which allowed each of their unique personalities to shine through. They have since gone on to mesmerise audiences across Wales and further afield as the Three Welsh Tenors.
All three are professional tenors, who of course have solo careers in their own rights. Rhys Meirion has sung most of the leading romantic tenor roles whilst on principal contract at English National Opera and has also appeared with Frankfurt Opera, West Australia Opera, Opera Australia and the Hong Kong Festival. His duet album with Bryn Terfel “Benedictus” was nominated for a Classical Brit Award in 2006.
Aled Hall is a frequent performer for Welsh National Opera and has made over 150 appearances at the Royal Albert Hall, London in concerts and operas promoted by Raymond Gubbay. Further afield he has sung at Aix en Provence Festival, Wexford Festival, Tokyo, Salzburg and in Baden Baden.
Like Rhys Meirion, Alun Rhys-Jenkins’ initial career was in teaching but after winning the Towyn Roberts Scholarship, he turned professional, joining Welsh National Opera in 2005. After singing numerous roles for the company he began a freelance career in 2009 and has since worked for Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Scottish Opera and ENO. He also made his European concert debut singing Carmina Burana with the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra conducted by Carlo Rizzi.
Their debut album will be released this summer, on the 1st August 2011, on the SAIN label.
Escala
Fusing contemporary sounds with classical instruments, the gorgeous electric string quartet ESCALA caused a sensation in the final of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent 2008. Their Trevor Horn produced debut album ‘Escala’ boasted the freshest and most innovative sound of 2009, scoring one of the highest first week sales for any debut artist in the UK that year.
The quartet comprises four sophisticated, beautiful and intelligent girls in their twenties. These talented, dedicated and disciplined musicians studied at London’s most prestigious music colleges, becoming highly trained, professional classical performers. The four girls became close friends after being recruited as part of a large string section for a UK arena tour by boyband McFly, and decided to work together to create a new musical phenomenon. After entering Britain’s Got Talent 2008, performing in front of 14 million viewers on the show’s final, the band were signed by Simon Cowell to company, Syco Entertainment.
ESCALA are violinists Victoria Lyon, aged 27, and Izzy Johnston, 27. Chantal Leverton, a viola player aged 28 and cellist Tasya Hodges, 29 complete the line up. The ladies are serious about their music, playing both acoustic and electric instruments and bringing stylish high-octane showmanship to their performances. With their unique formula of fun and integrity, the girls believe their approach will encourage many (in particular the young) to overcome prejudices about classical instruments.
The international appeal for their contemporary sound has seen them travel the globe over the past 3 years including appearances such as Oprah & The Today Show in the US, Children in Need and opening Sweden’s Pink Ribbon Gala. The girls have also enjoyed recent performance highlights such as opening the NASCAR Awards in Vegas, Half time entertainment for the NBA basketball Match at London’s O2 arena and were special guests performing at ‘China’s Got Talent’. They have also led BSkyB’s TV campaign for the UK Premiership football season (in succession to bands such as Simple Minds, Queen and Oasis).
Natasha Marsh
Amour, the debut album of this stunning Welsh Soprano went straight to the top of the Classical Charts and was nominated for Best Album at the 2008 Classical Brit Awards. Born in Brecon, Natasha went on to graduate with a First Class Honours Degree in Music and Drama from Birmingham University, and won a coveted scholarship to the Royal College of Music. Natasha went on to become the ‘voice’ of Euro 2008, recording Mozart’s famous ‘Queen of the Night’ aria, for ITV’s coverage of the football tournament. This glamorous singer has toured the UK and Europe extensively with many leading artists and orchestras to great critical acclaim. She has appeared as a special guest for artists including Il Divo, Jose Carreras, Russell Watson, and mesmerized audiences all over the country with Paul Potts. Natasha glides seamlessly from recording artist to the enchanting opera houses around the world. Both her beautiful debut album ‘Amour’ and her second album ‘Natasha Marsh’ cemented Natasha as a celebrated international recording artist.
Penbarras School Choir
Musical Director – Elen Meirion
Accompanist- Elin Owen
Guitarist – Alex Carter
PenBarras is a Welsh medium primary school in Ruthin, Denbighshire. The school choir was established in 2007, and its members include pupils from the junior department ranging in age from 8 to 11.
The choir entertain regularly within their local community, and have also competed in choral competitions at the Urdd Eisteddfod, and at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod. Televised performances for S4C include The Daily Post Thousands of Christmas Voices concert at Llangollen, Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol, Noson Lawen, Wedi 7. In 2010 the choir performed at the St David’s Day celebrations in Disneyland, Paris. An exciting and rewarding trip for the young members.
In March, 2011, Pen Barras choir won the Songs of Praise Junior choir of the year competition. Suzi Digby, one of the adjudicators commented as follows:
“ You seldom see a choir of any age, let alone children, commit wholeheartedly, body and voice to singing in this way, and it’s so inspiring to watch. The commitment of every single one of your choir is inspirational.”
Pen Barras ‘ music department hope that through the medium of singing their pupils learn to enjoy and appreciate music, and that they also acquire fond and life lasting memories.
Only Men Aloud
Only Men Aloud is a male voice choir from South Wales, that came to national prominence in the UK when they won the BBC’s Last Choir Standing competition in 2008 and were crowned ‘the nation’s favourite choir’. Following Last Choir Standing, the choir signed a five-record deal with Universal Music and released their first album. The choir embarked on their first UK tour in April/May 2009 where their performance at the Cardiff International Arena featured a one-off performance with Bonnie Tyler.
In October 2009, the choir’s second album, Band of Brothers, went straight to number one in the UK Classical Charts, where it remained for three weeks, and went on to win the NS&I Album of the Year 2010 at the Classical Brit Awards.
Only Men Aloud have toured extensively throughout the UK and entertained audiences further afield in America, and have been engaged to perform at many prestigious events including The Royal Variety Performance and The Opening Ceremony of Ryder Cup Wales. There is no doubt that Only Men Aloud entertain all audiences with their unique on stage characters and their exciting blend of both traditional and contemporary music.
John Owen-Jones
John is an award winning and record-breaking West End and Broadway performer probably best known for his performance as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables and as The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera.
John is currently playing the role of The Phantom at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London having returned to the role in November 2010. He initially played the character nearly 1400 times between 2001 and 2005 – more times than any other actor in the show’s 25 year long West End run.
He has played the role of Jean Valjean to great acclaim both in the West End and on Broadway, and recently won a Manchester Evening news Award for Best Actor in a Visiting Production for his performance as Jean Valjean in the 25th Anniversary Tour of Les Miserables. He has also been voted the Best Ever Les Miserables Performer and Best Ever Jean Valjean in a worldwide online poll by fans of the show and was part of the Valjean Quartet featured in the finale to the les Miserable 25th Anniversary Concert at the O2 Arena, London.
John has also appeared extensively elsewhere in theatre, on TV and radio and in concerts all over the world. He has recorded two solo CDs: Hallelujah and John Owen-Jones.
Sophie Evans
Mark Evans
Mark Evans is a 26 year old actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, West End star and emerging TV talent. A Welsh native, Mark’s youthful demeanour and charismatic flair has gained him a considerably affluent string of theatrical credits to his name. Having worked the theatre circuit, Mark’s greatest stage achievements include playing Troy Bolton, the leading role in the London production of High School Musical, Brad Majors in the U.K national tour of the Rocky Horror Show, he played one of musical theatre’s most iconic leading male roles, Curly in the recent UK national tour of OKLAHOMA! and, since February 2011, he has been playing the role of Fiyero in the West End smash, Wicked. Mark has appeared in a number of films. He played Brett in Lake Placid 3 which was broadcast on TV in 2010 and he also starred as Chad in Grain Media’s Dead Hungry.
August 1st will see him add to his ever-increasing repertoire of talents as he releases a bi-lingual album on contemporary Welsh label, Sain Records. Another primary musical achievement of Mark’s came when he appeared on Your Country Needs You With Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber. Mark reached the final in this BBC television competition which saw his charming and alluring talents broadcast to millions of people.
He’s become a regular on S4C, on such Welsh speaking programs as Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol; Wedi 7; the Eisteddfod Annual Concert; the Sian Cothi Show; Noson Lawen; The Big Welsh Talent Concert and many more. Having travelled the country acting and performing, Mark also gives something back to his community. The West End in Wales scheme is an imitative created by Mark back in August 2006. This inspiring program offers children in North Wales the chance to work along side Evans and current West End professionals in a week-long musical theatre summer school, getting first-hand advice from someone who emerged from their very town.
Only Boys Aloud
In May 2010 Tim Rhys Evans, Musical Director of Only Men Aloud, embarked on a new project, to revive the male voice choir tradition, by forming Only Boys Aloud. The boys made their first public appearance at the Ebbw Vale National Eisteddfod in Ebbw Vale and received three standing ovations for their renditions of Calon Lan, Sosban Fach and Don’t Stop Believing.
