LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOYS

NOW they are studying for their school exams, completing their degrees or working during gap years – but before long they hope to be Wales’ latest big-name singers.

Dozens of members of Only Boys Aloud (OBA) have just met up for an intensive week of preparation for forthcoming performances in Cardiff, Llangollen, Wiltshire and London.

The residential programme – the Principality Only Boys Aloud Academi, which finishes on July 9 – brought together some of the best and brightest singers over 16 to train together.

They have been preparing music under the leadership of artistic director Tim Rhys-Evans, with support from other music professionals who lead the OBA choirs throughout the year, while London-based stage director and choreographer Jonathan Butterell has also been involved.

Coordinated by The Aloud Charity, the Only Boys Aloud programme uses singing to engage with teenage boys and there are currently around 180 members.

Mr Rhys-Evans said: “The Academi has grown in strength and ambition over the last seven years and has delivered some truly fantastic results.”

We went along to meet some of the boys and young men hoping to take the showbusiness scene by storm in the coming years. Jordan Galbraith, 16, from Gronant “This is my first time here. I am finding it challenging but totally worth it.

“I was with the North Wales Only Boys Aloud choir and there was an opportunity to audition, so I went along.

“I would like to be do performing arts in the future so this is great.

“My family is really supportive of what I do. I’m the only one in the family to try to go into it.

“I will be starting at performing arts college in September.” Erwan Hughes, 19, from Ely, Cardiff “I went to sixth form in Cardiff and I am now on a gap year working at Magic Wrap in the city centre.

“I have been applying for drama schools, but this year I have been unsuccessful but will be applying again next year.

“Weeks like this are really good for your applications.

“This is my fourth year here and I would never have applied without this.

“Other than singing I love to exercise and I love films. Depending on work sometimes I will watch three or four films a week.

“My family are really behind me – there has never been a question of them not supporting me, as long as I get my grades in school.

“I would love to be in films and I am determined to make that possible. Star Wars would be the ultimate obviously – a small speaking part in that and I would be happy for life.” Gethin Griffith, 18, from Holyhead “I have been coming here since I was 15. They had just opened their hub in North Wales and I wanted to give it a go.

“I got in and I’ve now been coming here for three years.

“It’s a four-and-a-bit-hour trip down here and I had never been to Cardiff before.

“I have just finished my A-levels where I was studying English, drama and music.

“At the moment I work for my mum in a cafe but I am in two bands.

“One is an indie band called Loose Change where I sing and play lead guitar.

“I am also in a trio group with two of the boys I met here and we are called The Harmonies.

“My dream career would be in a band and performing songs in front of thousands.

“I also love musical theatre – my favourite is Les Mis. I am torn between that and being in a band.

“I get my interest from my mum. She is into art and music. Now my sister loves art and I love music.” Gabriel Tranmer, 16, from Ruthin “It is my first time at the academy and I think it is incredible – especially the quality of everyone here.

“Everyone has passion for music and is so dedicated.

“It is nice to be around people who love it as much as I do and I do not feel out of place.

“I go to a small school and there are only three of us taking GCSE music.

“I also play the tuba and I really want music as a career.

“I will be going to Manchester to Chetham’s School of Music soon.” Aled Owen, 20, from Carmarthen “This is my fifth year here but it is my first as a session leader.

“I act as an a mba s s a d o r between the staff and the boys.

“If they don’t feel comfortable talking to the staff they are able to talk to us as we can relate to things like homesickness as we have been through it before.

“In the future I want to do a bit of everything – acting and writing.

“This has been my best week of the year for every year I have been coming here.

“The discipline of the week is fantastic and there’s the opportunity to work with such great teachers.

“Many people put performing arts as a career on a pedestal, but weeks like this make it open for everyone.

“All you need is the willingness to be put through the wringer!” Tom Benning-Roberts, 17, from Wrexham “I have been here twice before – I get called Fellaini and David Luiz a lot because people say I look like them!

“I don’t really know how I got into singing originally. I had a few piano lessons because my mum made me go.

“Me and my mates were in year six and there was a singing competition. We entered for a joke, but I ended up winning it. From there I got more into it.

“I am currently studying my A-levels in maths, physics and music. I am going to apply in September for the Royal Welsh and Royal Northern Schools.

“I love how much confidence you can have here, it is like a brotherhood.” Tom Whitcombe, 20, from Rhymney “This is my fourth year and I am session leader.

“We are able to run classes sometimes.

“I am not entirely sure what I want to go into in the future but at the moment I am studying music at Bangor University.

“A composer sounds great but a bit unrealistic but I would be very interested in lecturing in musicology.

“This week is a great chance to get some difficult music.

“You just turn up and then are confronted with an hour-and-a-half concert. You get to sing in a language I did not know existed.”