Voice of the Future joins orchestra for concerts
ONE of the UK’s finest young opera singers will be taking centre stage with North Wales’s flagship orchestra for a magical new year celebration.
Soprano Erin Rossington will be headlining two concerts organised by the NEW Sinfonia orchestra in St Asaph Cathedral at 7pm on Friday, January 3, and 3pm at St Giles’ Church, Wrexham, the following day.
Erin, 24, from Llanfairtalhaiarn, near Abergele, triumphed over competitors from around the globe in the Pendine International Voice of the Future contest at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod 2019. The prestigious competition was sponsored by the Pendine Park care organisation via their Pendine Arts and Community Trust and Erin won £5,000 to help her continue her studies at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she has already gained a Masters in music.
Now she says the chance to perform with NEW Sinfonia, one of Britain’s most talented young orchestras, is another “miraculous” step towards achieving her lifetime dream of being an opera star.
She said: “It’s wonderful. I can’t wait for New Year. As a student I don’t often get to sing solo with a top-rated full orchestra behind me and so to be invited to do that is an offer I could in no way refuse.”
NEW Sinfonia conductor Robert Guy of Wrexham, who founded the orchestra with his brother, professional clarinettist and composer Jonathan, in 2011, said they are thrilled to have Erin in the spotlight.
The New Year Gala concerts are a highlight of the orchestra’s calendar, starting off each year in rapturous style as they perform a selection of rousing Viennese waltzes, polkas and marches among other music.
Tickets are already being eagerly snapped up for the concerts.
Robert said he and Jonathan were dazzled by Erin’s singing talent when they saw her perform at Llangollen International Eisteddfod in summer.
Having launched just under 10 years ago, NEW Sinfonia, respected nationwide, are the Orchestra in Residence for North Wales International Music Festival and regularly work in partnership on projects with Welsh National Opera.
Erin, who grew up with her three sisters helping to run their parents’ North Wales sheep farm, is delighted to be among them. She has been hailed one of the region’s most promising musical talents. She studied at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, before going on to the Guildhall.
Tickets are available from Cathedral Frames, St Asaph, and Wrexham Tourism and Information office. For information or to book online visit www.newsinfonia.org.uk.