Daily Express

Choir’s got talent to sing in honour of tragic founder

- By Mark Reynolds

A GIRLS’ choir will tonight take centre stage on Britain’s Got Talent – singing in trinute of their co-founder who was killed in a car crash.

The Angelicus Celtis choir, from Llanelli, Carmarthen­shire, is made up of schoolgirl­s aged 11 to 17 and will sing Nessun Dorma.

It was being establishe­d by Welsh musical maestro John Hywel Williams and his 79-yearold wife Jean, also a successful musician, when she was killed in a car crash in which the couple were involved two years ago.

Despite being behind the formation of the ensemble with her husband, Mrs Williams never saw the choir perform. Jeremy Williams, the couple’s son, will direct the choir for their audition on the show, screened tonight at 8pm on ITV.

Yesterday he described how much the performanc­e means to everyone involved.

He said: “There is huge pride in my family, especially with the choir having been formed just after the tragedy.”

He added that the choristers had all rallied together after his mother’s death.

“They have been really great in helping my dad and myself in overcoming the tragedy,” he said. Hannah Seward, 17, a lead chorister, said: “We just want to make Mr and Mrs Williams proud.

“Mrs Williams was always very caring and after every performanc­e in a previous choir she used to come over and give me a hug.”

John Williams will be seen among those watching the audition, which subsequent­ly attracts a standing ovation from the audience.

Simon Cowell calls him on to the stage to discuss his feelings at watching the choir he and his late wife put together.

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 ??  ?? Members of the choir during their emotional audition in honour of Mrs Williams, inset
Members of the choir during their emotional audition in honour of Mrs Williams, inset

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