Young opera stars take part in festival finale at Cathedral
BUDDING young opera stars will be making their debut at a prestigious international music festival.
Singers from Youth Opera North Wales will be taking centre stage at St Asaph Cathedral on Saturday, September 28, as part of the finale of this year’s North Wales International Music Festival.
Made up from youngsters aged eight to 18 from across North Wales, the 22-strong group will take to the stage on the final night of the festival, alongside Welsh National Opera’s Festival Community Chorus, the resident NEW Sinfonia orchestra and Kana Chamber Choir.
The three WNO soloists will be soprano Samantha Hay, tenor Rhodri Prys Jones and baritone Roland Wood.
Morgana Warren-Jones, who runs WNO’s youth and community programme in North Wales, said the concert on September 28 will be the young company’s very first public performance.
“The festival is a fantastic event for WNO Youth Opera North Wales to make their debut.
“This is a professional performance and they are all really excited, as singing at the Festival’s final concert is such a huge honour.
“Welsh National Opera has produced a concert at the last two festivals, and both have sold out and so to be part of the concert that will close the festival is a real privilege.”
The 22 members of WNO Youth Opera North Wales will take to the stage during the second half of the festival finale, for a performance of Carmina Burana.
With the Regazzi section written specifically for young voices, the concert is, says Morgana, the group’s chance to shine.
Formed back in February 2018 by WNO to bring its successful South Wales youth programme to the north of the country, Youth Opera North Wales and its young singers have gone from strength to strength, with an additional group section – for 14 to 18-yearolds – recently launched.
Working from their base at Venue Cymru, Llandudno, the youngsters travel from across North Wales to rehearse every Wednesday night. And the WNO Youth Opera North Wales team are now working hard on their performance rehearsals.
One of the young performers, 13-year-old Libby Hâf Hillier from Llanddaniel Fab, Anglesey, said she was excited to be singing at the Festival’s closing performance.
Libby, who joined WNO Youth Opera North Wales after being encouraged by a friend who was already a member, said singing with the group had been an incredible experience.
“With opera you can convey a story entirely through song which is very powerful, and I have found singing with WNO Youth Opera North Wales incredibly interesting and great fun.”
Tickets are available from Theatr Clwyd, Mold – 01352 344101 or Cathedral Frames, St Asaph – 01745 582929.
For more about the North Wales International Music Festival visit www.nwimf.com.