Students of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama gave a spectacular performance this evening in tribute to Dame Shirley Bassey, who joined the public audience in her home town of Cardiff for the glittering gala event.
“I’ve never had this in my life,” said Dame Shirley after the performance.
“Somebody singing my songs to me. They made me cry. Wow. It was incredible.”
Graduate Jenny Adams performs
Guests at the Gala, including Cabinet Secretary for Education Kirsty Williams, Tim Rhys Evans and Sian Lloyd enjoyed classic Bassey numbers including Goldfinger and Big Spender, performed by the College’s Big Band, Music Theatre students and graduates in the College’s Dora Stoutzker Hall.
A highlight of the performance was ten year old Junior Conservatoire pianist Charlotte Kwok, who played for Dame Shirley and HRH The Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace earlier this year.
During a special tribute to Dame Shirley, Hilary Boulding, the College Principal, announced the naming of the Shirley Bassey Studio, in celebration of the legendary singer’s long-standing support of young Welsh singers studying at the College.
Dame Shirley also donated the glamorous Jenny Packham gown she was wearing -and that she wore to the premiere of James Bond’s Spectre – to raise further funds for the Dame Shirley Bassey Scholarship Fund, which was started in 2003 when she auctioned 50 of her iconic dresses for the College and the Noah’s Ark Charity.
Previous recipients of the Dame Shirley Scholarship include Trystan Llŷr Griffiths, who won the College’s prestigious Ian Stoutzker Prize among many others, and is now on the Young Artists programme at Opernhaus Zurich.
“I am truly grateful that I received the Shirley Bassey scholarship. I wouldn’t have been able to study at RWCMD without it. I had many great experiences while at the College, performing for Prince Charles and many other high profile concerts, and this has been great for me going forward as a performer.”
Dame Shirley Bassey meets students and graduates
To take part in the auction please visit www.rwcmd.ac.uk/dameshirleyauction.
For images contact: press@rwcmd.ac.uk
Editors notes
“I started off with nobody supporting me, there was nothing when I started, there were no schools or college for me. I made it, and I wanted to give that back to my hometown, where I came from in the docks of Cardiff.”
Dame Shirley Bassey
In 2003 Dame Shirley donated the proceeds from an auction of her gowns to the College to establish the Dame Shirley Bassey Scholarship Fund. From this investment, a scholarship is now awarded every year to an outstanding Welsh singer to help further their musical development.
Recipients have included:
Elin Prichard, a soprano, was one of the College’s first Bassey Scholars. After graduating, Elin sang Violetta in Traviata, and Rusalka for Scottish opera, as well as working extensively for Opera North and Finnish National Opera.
Samantha Price, a mezzo soprano has gone on to enjoy great success with English National Opera.
Trystan Llŷr Griffiths, tenor, is currently a young artist at Zurich Opera, performing principal roles and recently made his company and role debut for Welsh National Opera as Beppe in I Pagliacci.
2015 Bassey scholarship holder Andrew Henley has performed at Glyndebourne, Wexford Opera, and recently performed the title role of Owen Wingrave for British Youth Opera.
Emyr Wyn Jones, who graduated this year, performed with Sir Mark Elder and the Halle orchestra at the Battle of the Somme Centenary, and he also won the Ian Stoutzker Prize for the most outstanding musician at the Royal Welsh College.
The current scholarship holder Rhodri Jones is a tenor from mid Wales and recently joined the College’s first year Opera Performance Course. He has already won at the National Esteddfodd, and performed at the Royal Albert Hall.
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