Choir singer Mila raises her voice to claim TV semi spot
ASINGER from Littleborough is a semi-finalist in the BBC Young Chorister of the Year Competition.
Mila Tsoneva, 14, was entered into the competition by her singing teacher at Wells Cathedral School in Somerset, where she has a scholarship.
She won the scholarship to study as a specialist singer in 2019, and dreams of being an opera singer.
After a video was sent in, Mila was one of five other girls, and five boys, who have been chosen to sing on Songs of Praise, broadcast from Salisbury Cathedral.
It will be aired on BBC 1 on November 21, with the final airing on December 5 – the winner is currently under embargo.
Proud mum-of-two, Emma Tsoneva, 45, from Littleborough, said: “Mila was previously a chorister at Manchester Cathedral and trained with singing teacher Daniel Howard in
Whitworth. She was a chorister at the cathedral from the age of 10 and she was there for three years. The cathedral did a Be a Chorister for a Day event and we went one afternoon.
“She loved it and she had to do two auditions with the cathedral.” Through her position with the cathedral, Mila attended Cheetham’s School of Music.
Emma added: “She has been singing ever since she was a little girl at primary school. She really enjoyed music and singing.
“She was always in the nativity plays and always had a passion for singing.
“She had singing lessons locally too.
“It was really exciting for her to get the scholarship as she wants to be an opera singer when she grows up.
“It’s the right thing for her to do as it’s quite exclusive – she’s the only one in her year with that scholarship.
“It’s very exciting for her and we’re very proud of her, but it’s quite sad that it’s so far away.
“It’s a national competition – we went to Salisbury for four days to record and we had such a fun time.
“Mila is very excited and looking forward to seeing herself on television.
“She’s very happy she got so far and it’s all gone so well.”
Mila’s little sister, April, nine, is following in her sister’s footsteps, as she has now become a chorister at Manchester Cathedral.
The girl’s dad, Larry Tsoneva, 51, previously sang in a band.