Tredegar Band has announced that it has added a new star soloist to its ranks — although this time it is not a brass instrumentalist, but one of Wales’s rising vocal stars, Siwan Henderson.
Musical theatre
The 19 year old (above) will soon embark on the first steps of a musical theatre career with a three year degree course in London, but is thrilled to be able to link up with the band as they prepare for a busy year of high profile concert and recording appearances.
“Gaining further high quality singing experience is so important in musical theatre and the opportunity to work with Tredegar certainly offers that,” Siwan told 4BR.
“The scope and variety of music that brass bands now perform is amazing, so I can’t wait to start working with them.”
First experience
Siwan recently came to listen to Tredegar in rehearsal — although as MD Ian Porthouse told 4BR, her first experience of hearing the band play was a little surreal, as they rehearsed Gavin Higgins’ score to the forthcoming Rambert Ballet, ‘Dark Arteries’.
“That was certainly different, but we soon explained we do play other genres of music too!
Ian explained that following the success of the band’s involvement in the award winning film ‘Pride’ and with appearances to come at the Southbank in London and Sadler’s Wells with the Rambert Ballet, they also wanted to offer their audiences yet more variety in their concert programmes.
We have built up a good reputation for providing innovative and entertaining concert programmes, and being able to include such a talented and versatile singer as Siwan will only add to that furtherIan Porthouse
Innovative concerts
“We have built up a good reputation for providing innovative and entertaining concert programmes, and being able to include such a talented and versatile singer as Siwan will only add to that further.
After meeting up with Siwan and her family we have been lucky enough to start to plan some exciting ideas, and we are thrilled that we will be able to feature Siwan in our concerts and on our next CD release.”