Saturday 7th December: Concert in aid of The Door Youth Project.
The Door Youth Project is based in Stroud and is charity that helps young people and their families. I’ve known the door for eight years now and was honoured when they asked me to become one of their patrons!
The Door helped build my confidence in Classical music, I sang Time to Say Goodbye at their Undiscovered Youth Talent contest in Stroud in 2008. It was the first time I’d ever sang Classical music in front of an audience so when I won my confidence soared, so really they are the reason that I’m singing Classical Crossover music today!
Before the concert even began, it felt wonderful to be in Stroud and among such good friends. Everyone was smiling and looking forward to a promising evening! The sound checks all went seamlessly, Jon Trim and his orchestra were sounding fantastic and there was a great atmosphere!
The concert began with Once in Royal David’s City, and in the first half we heard Christmas songs from Charlene Williams, Megan Strachan, Bryony Purdue and Rosita De Silva Teixeira; all wonderfully talented singers! Then it was my turn in the second half! It was a full house and the audience was filled with friendly faces; the whole Church felt so welcoming! Projecting my voice up towards the rafters felt fantastic and the acoustics are always great in Churches! I sang a range of music to track, from arias, to songs from Shine as well as some new material, and when I had finished the audience were kind enough to give me a standing ovation! Thank you very much!
Thank you to all who came to the concert and supported The Door Youth Project and I’d like to say an additional word of thanks to my Grandad who was so wonderful and helpful and for looking after all of my merchandise!
To find out more about The Door Youth Project, visit their website here.
From left to right: Bryony, Rosita, Mary-Jess, Brendan (Head of The Door Youth Project), Megan and Charlene.