World premiere of "Face in The Mirror"

Blakehay Theatre, Weston-super-Mare 

Well, we had our opening performance on Saturday in the Blakehay Theatre, Weston-super-Mare.  It went very well, and the audience seemed to like it, but then there were lots of parents among them.  I hope that some critics get to review it. We will now take it on tour to Cardiff, Neath and Gloucester.  It was a really nice feeling taking part in a new production, especially written for us, and produced in such a professional way.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE!

Later this week I shall be going along with other members of the WNO Singing Club to Buckingham Palace to sing before several members of the Royal Family.  The event is part of a WNO celebration, and will also be attended by WNO Chorus members, and Bryn Terfel and Katherine Jenkins will also be there.  What an opportunity!  I am so excited – will tell all about it afterwards.

La Boheme - reviews

There have been several reviews of the WNO production of La Boheme - so far all of them good - including 5 stars out of 5 in the Daily Telegraph.  It's really great to be involved in a show which people seem to appreciate.  Did another performance tonight - we can now leave after out "bit", so no more curtain calls, but it means we get home at a reasonable time.

Buskathon for Velindre Hospital

My singing teacher, Carla Maney, has been doing a series of "Buskathons" in Queen St, Cardiff to raise money for Velindre Hospital in Cardiff, which specialises in cancer treatment.  I helped out a bit on Saturday 26 May, when Carla and Mike Newman entertained people as they shopped.  I couldn't make a further session last Sunday because I was doing La Boheme, but Carla plans some more, so I hope to help.  Look out for them - it's all in a good cause.

La Bohéme – opening night

After lots of rehearsal we finally opened at the Wales Millennium Centre last night, to what looked like a full house from what I could see, peering into the bright stage lights.  I think it went well – obviously I could only see my bit, but everyone seemed pleased afterwards, and my parents loved it.  Just 30 more performances to go, the next being the Sunday matinee at the WMC again.

 Me in my "Paris street kid" gear  

WNO’s La Bohéme

We’re almost there – we’ve had lots of rehearsals, our costumes are ready and we’ve rehearsed in them, and we’ve done a “sitzprobe” (German for seated rehearsal with both singers and orchestra).  I’m really looking forward to it now.  It’s a massive tour – 7 performances in June, then a break over summer, and then 24 performances from the beginning of September through to 1 December.  The diary is as follows:

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff

01/06/2012 19:15

03/06/2012 16:00

06/06/2012 19:15

08/06/2012 19:15

09/06/2012 19:15

14/06/2012 19:15

15/06/2012 19:15

08/09/2012 19:15

15/09/2012 19:15

23/09/2012 16:00

29/09/2012 19:15

29/09/2012 19:15

02/10/2012 19:15

05/10/2012 19:15

Swansea Grand Theatre       

11/10/2012 19:00

13/10/2012 19:00

Venue Cymru, Llandudno      

18/10/2012 19:15

20/10/2012 19:15

New Theatre, Oxford

25/10/2012 19:15

27/10/2012 19:15

The Mayflower, Southampton           

31/10/2012 19:15

02/11/2012 19:15

03/11/2012 19:15

Birmingham Hippodrome      

13/06/2012 19:15

08/11/2012 19:15

10/11/2012 19:15

Liverpool Empire Theatre     

21/11/2012 19:15

23/11/2012 19:15

24/11/2012 19:15

The Bristol Hippodrome        

29/11/2012 19:15

01/12/2012 19:15  

New WNO Singing Club Production

The Singing Club (for 8-14 year old) is putting on a new show "Face In The Mirror", written by Lynne Plowman with lyrics by Martin Wiley.  We are going on tour with it, to Weston Super Mare, Neath, Gloucester and Cardiff.  Details and booking info here: http://www.wno.org.uk/mirror

The rehearsals are going really well - it's a great piece and lots of fun. Looking forward to the first concert.

Russell Watson and me on LemonAid

The programme went out last night - loads of my friends saw it, and I've been getting really nice messages on Facebook all last night and this morning - obviously Lemon-Aid is very popular with 13 year olds..  Someone on a Russell Watson fan site has seen my blog  and commented about the new Anthems CD - just to set the record straight, the CD that Russell gave me was a dummy copy with a draft version of the sleeve - I'm promised a signed copy when it comes out.  Russell also gave me tickets for his concert when he tours in Cardiff  in June - can't wait.

Lemon-Aid - me singing with Russell Watson

My dad got a call from ITV today to say that I shall be appearing on this Saturday's show on 21 April at 6.15pm.  I'll be closing the show singing with  RUSSELL WATSON  "The Voice" - he was a really great dude, really friendly.  I was so nervous - I'm sure it will show.  I also got kissed by Michelle Keegan - Tina the barmaid on Coronation Street!  The whole thing was a really amazing experience.

Keith Lemon's Lemon-Aid

Spent a brilliant evening yesterday at Teddington Studios filming for the ITV1 Saturday show "Keith Lemon's Lemon-Aid" where Keith helped me to make a dream come true.  I got to sing with a famous singer! I  can't say who yet.  The programme should go out on the 28th April - subject to confirmation.

Shrewsbury

Just come back from a week away at Shrewsbury School with the National Children's Choir of Great Britain (NCCGB), my first time with the choir.  It was hard work but great fun.  I made some good friends and I'm looking forward to returning in the summer.  Back in Cardiff I'm half way through rehearsals for La Boheme - roll on the opening night!

Catch-up

It's been a while since my last post - the Christmas period has been good for busking and I`ve been doing other things, as well as "wasting my time" (as my dad says) on my Xbox.  Singing-wise, I`ve recently been invited to be a member of the National Children`s Choir of Great Britain.  I start rehearsals in Shrewsbury School in Easter.  I`ve also started rehearsals for the summer tour of Welsh National Opera's La Boheme.  I`m really excited about that - it goes to loads of places, including Liverpool,Oxford and Southampton.

I had a fun time at a Burns Night supper in the Cardiff Club in Westgate St a few weeks back.  I learnt a few Rabbie Burns songs for the night, and my school friend Charlie Lovell-Jones entertained the audience with his dazzling violin playing.