‘SHEPHERD’ ROUNDS UP ROLE WITH SIR BRYN
AN “inspirational” young singer who overcame a rare kidney condition has landed a dream role performing with opera star Sir Bryn Terfel. Joseph Elwy Jones, 11, won the chance to sing at a top music festival after an audition process alongside first-rate Welsh singers – despite never having one professional singing lesson.
Diagnosed with Nephrotic syndrome in 2013, Joseph made a full recovery and is looking forward to playing the role of shepherd boy in the classic opera Tosca, alongside one of his idols.
Joseph, from Lixwm, Flintshire, said: “After the audition I had to wait about a week, which seemed a long time and I thought I hadn’t got the role.
“Then I was at school and the head teacher Miss Owen came into class and told me the good news. I was speechless.
“I was amazed and I can’t wait to meet Sir Bryn Terfel. I’ll be nervous but as soon as the music starts I’ll be fine.
“I’m taking loads of paper with me because all my friends have asked me to get Sir Bryn’s autograph.”
The keen football fan will take to the stage at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod as the iconic festival celebrates its 70th anniversary.
The festival has provided a springboard for several singers, including Sir Bryn Terfel himself, and Luciano Pavarotti, who first performed at the festival in 1955.
Joseph’s mum Abigail, a teacher at Ysgol Llywelyn in Rhyl, said: “He’s a typical lad, he enjoys playing football for Holywell and he’s got five guitars.
“He is proud of his Welsh roots and loves bands like the Manic Street Preachers, who will also be performing in Llangollen this year.
“He’s also a member of the local Scout group and loves the outdoors.
“His sister Sophia, seven, is learning how to play the keyboards and his dad David, who teaches English at Flint High School, has two drum kits. It’s quite a musical family.
“But he really has never had a professional singing lesson.”
The concert on Tuesday, July 4, which is being sponsored by care organisation Pendine Park, also features two other world-class opera stars, soprano Kristine Opolais and tenor Kristian Bened.
Thanks to extra singing lessons from his head teacher at Ysgol Gwenffrwd, Iola Owen, Joseph managed to land the role.
Mum Abigail added: “She is amazing and, once we knew he had an audition, I asked her if she could help him learn the part.
“He watched YouTube performances to help but singing in Italian isn’t easy, of course.
“She spent time helping him and even got him into school on a teacher training day for an hour.
“When I was told Joseph had landed the role I thought it only fair that she be the one to tell him the news.
“She sent a lovely card the following day congratulating him.”
Pendine Park proprietor Mario Kreft said: “Joseph is not only a supremely talented young singer, he is also an inspiration to us all in the way he has overcome his health problems with great courage and determination.”
When Joseph dons his shepherd costume he will follow in the footsteps of his great-grandfather.
Abigail said: “It’s quite fitting in a way that he has been chosen to play the Shepherd Boy in Tosca, because his great-grandfather Victor Thomas, who was the head of a veterinary practice in Caerwys, kept sheep all his life.
“As a family we are so looking forward to watching Tosca, it’s going to be a magical and a very proud moment for Joseph’s dad, his sister Sophia and myself.”
The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod will run from July 3 to 9.