Fundraising concert for Hope House Hospice to take place at Chester Cathedral on January 30

Jan 14 2010 Flintshire Chronicle

Organisers of last year’s hugely successful Festival of Hope in Mold are to stage a fundraising concert at Chester Cathedral later this month.

The Gwyl Gobaith concert in aid of Hope House Hospice will take place at the historic Chester venue on Saturday, January 30 at 7.30pm.

The line-up is headed by international tenor Rhys Meirion and David Kempster (baritone) along with Cor Ysgol Glanaethwy, Piantel, Llyr Williams and the Ruthin Mixed Choir.

Tickets are available from the Cathedral priced at £12.

Born in Wales, Rhys Meirion graduated as a Bachelor of Education and worked as a headteacher before beginning his training as a singer.

Rhys joined English National Opera Jerwood Young Singers programme in 1999 and was subsequently a principal from 2001 to 2004.

He sang in a variety of roles including Rodolfo in La Boheme, Alfredo in La Traviata and Nadir in The Pearl Fishers.

In 2002 Rhys made his Australian debut as Rodolfo in La Boheme for Western Australian Opera and his European debut as Rodolfo for Statische Buhnen, Frankfurt-am-Main. In addition, he sang in leading roles in Hong Kong and Lithuania.

Concert highlights include a gala concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London with Bryn Trefel, his BBC debut at the opening night of the 2001 BBC Proms and at the Desert Island Discs Anniversary Concert at the Royal Festival Hall, London.

David Kempster was born in Chirk and studied at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

He won the Young Welsh Singer Competition in 1998, and in 1999 he represented Wales in the Cardiff Singer of the World Competition.

David joined English National Opera as a principal baritone in 1998. Roles have included Marcello and Schaunard in La Boheme, Conte de Luna in Il Travatore, Pilate in St John’s Passion and Escamillo in Carmen.

He performed in La Boheme for Glyndebourne on Tour, and in the title role in Rigoletto in South Africa.

Recent engagements include Lescaut in Manon Lescaut for Florida Grand Opera and Roberto for the Buxton Festival.

David has performed on stage with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the London Concert Orchestra and with the Hallé at the National Eisteddfod of Wales.

The Chester concert follows the inaugural Festival of Hope in June in Mold which was so successful it attracted about 9,000 visitors.

The event will take place at Deeside College, Northop Campus on June 25, 26 and 27.

For further information about the Chester concert, ring 01244 500959 or visit the website www.chestercathedral.com.