ONE of the most talented young tenors in the UK will have a starring role at a concert to launch a top music festival.

Welsh National Opera singer Rhodri Prys Jones will be performing at St Asaph Cathedral on Tuesday, June 25, at the curtain raiser for the acclaimed North Wales International Music Festival.

The festival will be staged at the same venue from September 14-28, thanks to support from the Arts Council of Wales and Ty Cerdd.

Other highlights will include performances from pianist Teleri-Siân, the junior and senior piano trios from the William Mathias Music Centre, Côr Cytgan Clwyd and a quartet from the festival’s resident orchestra, NEW Sinfonia.

According to Rhodri Prys Jones, who will be accompanied by pianist Conal Bembridge-Sayers, he is excited about making his North Wales International Music Festival debut during what is a busy year for the 26-year-old.

Currently covering the role of Tamino in the Magic Flute with the Welsh National Opera (WNO), Rhodri says he’s been busy since graduating from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama last summer.

He said: “I’m with the Welsh National Opera (WNO) and gaining invaluable experience.

"After I finish the Magic Flute, I’ll be covering the role of Ernesto in Don Pasquale again with the WNO so it’s a busy year.

“I’ve been fortunate to have performed at most of the UK’s major iconic venues. As a proud Welshman my main ambition was to perform on my national stage at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff.

"I managed that when I performed in War and Peace playing the role of Fyodor.

“I’ve also sung at the Royal Albert Hall as a soloist in the Thousand Voices concert in 2016 and in July of this year I’m going to experience my debut at Covent Garden when I play Fyodor in War and Peace."

He added: “It will be a special evening at the cathedral and I’m delighted to have been chosen to perform at the festival’s launch concert.”

Artistic director Ann Atkinson said: “It’s going to be a very special evening. Rhodri Prys Jones is an amazing talent.

“The theme for this year’s festival will be Mother Earth.

"So many composers have been inspired by our beautiful world and all the nature within it.

"Beethoven, for example, often used nature as inspiration for his compositions and often said he preferred the company of a tree to that of a human being.

“The evening concert on Thursday, September 26 will feature our resident NEW Sinfonia orchestra performing Beethoven’s Symphony No 6, Pastorale. Each movement of the symphony is inspired by nature.

"It’s a very special and famous piece of music. Welsh mezzo-soprano Rebecca Afonwy-Jones will join the orchestra to perform Elgar’s Sea Pictures.”

Launch concert tickets are £10 and they are available from Cathedral Frames, 28 High Street, St Asaph on 01745 582929 (open Tuesday-Friday, 10am-4.30pm) or from caroline@nwimf.com

Festival tickets will go on sale after the launch concert.