Welsh Critics’ Choice star Matthew Rhys will be the musical charity Aloud’s first ever Aloud Ambassador.
Fresh on the back of scooping a prestigious Critics’ Choice TV Award this weekend for Best Drama Series with his The Americans cast mates, Cardiffian Matthew pledged his support.
Aloud was established as a charity by choral conductor, arranger, composer and TV presenter Tim Rhys-Evans in 2012 with the shared aims of reinvigorating the Welsh male choir tradition and effecting real change in the lives of young people from areas of social deprivation.
Matthew, who has also been named this week as Robert Downey Jr’s replacement in the title role of HBO series Perry Mason; has a jam-packed schedule which saw him play a lead role in BBC’s Death and Nightingales last month and with upcoming film roles in A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood with Tom Hanks and The Report with Adam Driver. This will showcase at the Sundance Film Festival later this month.
He is happy to make time for Aloud and said:
“I’m delighted to be Aloud’s first Ambassador. Only Boys Aloud and Only Kids Aloud do inspiring work, not only because they sing so well but also because the experiences the boys and girls are given help them learn new skills, build self-confidence and perform to the highest standards. There’s plenty of evidence too that Aloud can transform lives. Keep up the good work!”
RADA-trained Matthew is an accomplished singer himself, having starred in several musical theatre productions at Ysgol Glantaf, where he was a pupil and best friends with fellow household Hollywood name Ioan Gruffudd.
Like Aloud’s Artistic Director Tim Rhys-Evans, Matthew firmly believes in the transformative power of music and that everybody should be given the opportunity to engage in the arts.
Aloud now delivers activity through three main strands: Only Kids Aloud, Only Boys Aloud; who have just released a new and limited edition album called A New Generation; and the Only Boys Aloud Academi; which have all improved the lives of thousands of children from some of the poorest communities in Wales.
Next year Aloud will present a varied programme of events and celebrations to mark 10 years since OBA was formed.
Tim said:
“Our ambition at Aloud has always been to inspire kids from every kind of background to aspire for something. Having Matthew Rhys, one of the world’s most successful actors endorse our work in this way shows that anything is possible with hard work and dedication. We are delighted that Matthew has accepted our invitation to be Only Boys Aloud’s first ambassador and I hope he will inspire our boys to be the best version of themselves, in whatever they choose to do.”
