The Aloud Charity are recruiting new members to our Only Boys Aloud choirs in West Wales!
Only Boys Aloud is a programme of free weekly choir rehearsals for boys aged 11-19 from communities across Wales. We are committed to breaking down barriers to the music world and therefore involvement in Only Boys Aloud is non-auditioned and completely free!
Young people in West Wales have the opportunity to participate in weekly rehearsals in:
- Cardigan | Monday, Cardigan Castle, 6.30pm-8.30pm
- Haverfordwest | Thursday, Vision Arts, 6.30pm-8.30pm
- Aberystwyth | Thursday, Arad Goch, 6:00pm-8:00pm
A team of experienced professional Choir Leaders and Community Leaders (volunteers from the local community) deliver rehearsals.
Weekly Only Boys Aloud rehearsals consist of a series of warm up games and activities followed by a section of music learning including traditional Welsh choral music and musical theatre tracks. Boys engage in team activities, learn a range of repertoire, and build lasting friendships with their fellow choir members.
A large and exciting part of Only Boys Aloud are the performance opportunities. The Aloud Charity provides free transport for boys to participate in events taking place outside their own area.
In the coming months our West Wales Only Boys Aloud participants will have the opportunity to take part in a range of events including a performance at Cardigan Castle alongside Only Men Aloud on 14 July.
Following support from Bluestone Foundation and Arts Council of Wales, in September 2021, The Aloud Charity launched 3 new Only Boys Aloud choirs in West Wales.
This was in response to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic to provide activities to improve young people’s mental well-being and self-confidence following lockdown and expand the benefits of the successful Only Boys Aloud choir programme to young people in West Wales.
During the first year of the programme Only Boys Aloud members in West Wales had the opportunity to take part in a range of performances and experiences including:
- An online recording of A Song For Wales, written especially for Only Boys Aloud by Grammy-Winner Amy Wadge and Aloud Founder Tim Rhys Evans
- A performance at the Urdd (Denbighshire) Eisteddfod
- A performance at the Serendome at Bluestone Resort
- A performance at the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol (Tregaron)
- 2 performances (Cardiff and Rhyl) at The Aloud Charity 10th anniversary concerts
- Recording 3 songs on the 2022 album GEN Z
In February 2023, The Aloud Charity welcomed Beth Jenkins as our new Project Manager in West Wales. Beth has been busy connecting with local organisations to help spread the word of Only Boys Aloud alongside planning out a programme of rehearsals, workshops, and events for young people. Beth has also been arranging a series of open rehearsals for our West Wales choirs where young people interested in joining their local choir will have the opportunity meet other members and experience a rehearsal.
“In the short time that I have been in post I’ve already seen first-hand the impact choral singing can have on young people and I’m really looking forward to spreading the word throughout West Wales and providing the boys with an incredible calendar of performances throughout the year. If you are thinking about joining Only Boys Aloud I would say, come and give it a go, meet the choir leaders in your area and get to know the boys.” Beth Jenkins, Project Manager, West Wales
If you know a young person who wants to make new friends, experience a range of exciting opportunities, and develop new skills contact our West Wales Project Manager Beth Jenkins: [email protected]
The Aloud Charity is always looking for new volunteers and Choir Leaders to support the delivery of our choir programme. Contact us on [email protected] for more details.
