Countdown is on for Cardiff concert featuring 1000 young people from across South Wales
A thousand young people from 36 schools across South Wales will be singing in a musical extravaganza at the Motorpoint Arena Cardiff on Monday 15th July, supported by a host of celebrity acts and professional musicians.
The Beyond Words concert, now in its sixth year, will feature local school children and young people aged between 8 and 23, with a team of young people aged 16 to 23 organising the event.
It will also feature mysterious Britain’s Got Talent finalist ‘X’, who was revealed to be none other than last year’s semi-finalist – magician Marc Spellman.
Spellman takes to the stage alongside Paul Zerdin, a British comedian, ventriloquist and winner of 2015’s America’s Got Talent.
Paul says of his role in the project,
“It’s terrific being involved with a project that can really reach out and have such a positive effect on young people. Also being a ventriloquist, I have more than one voice which does help make up the thousand voices!”
The theme of the concert is based on the smash hit song A Million Dreams from the hugely popular musical The Greatest Showman but adapted to create a story about charity and young people’s dreams.
Welsh-born Matthew Brind, an international composer, arranger and conductor, is the Musical Director of the concert.
Brind has worked with various orchestras including, BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and has also worked for hit TV shows X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent and America’s Got Talent.
The orchestra will consist of music students from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff University and Swansea University.
The young team organising the concert have been trained as part of Hybu’s Pobl Ifanc Programme (Promoting Young People in Welsh) which offers an “exciting and unique” volunteer programme for 16 to 18-year olds to work alongside children in after school and holiday clubs across Wales.
Gill James, Managing Director of Beyond Words, says:
“On Monday 15th July we will see a group of young people aged 16-23 welcome one of TV’s latest stars to the Motorpoint Arena Cardiff for the most amazing evening imaginable.
“Anyone who saw X come second in this year’s Britain’s Got Talent final will know that this incredible magician promoted hope and the young people are hoping that people will join them for an evening of mystery with Marc Spelmann aka X and Paul Zerdin.
“We are preparing this show for adults to enjoy as much as the young people.
“Paul may have those puppets but we know they can be very naughty! And Marc will confuse and enthral from the youngest to the eldest member of the audience.
“They are under the leadership of Matthew Brind, our Musical Director, who again has a world reputation.
“They may be young but the standard is high and they will tell you that they are not a bunch of kids singing but they are “A professional choir” accompanied by a full orchestra and presenting a range of iconic pop songs.
“Beyond Words is a phenomenal event that combines show biz glitz with community talent creating an evening that will never be forgotten.
“We want people to come along to see world famous artists and support Welsh young people who have created this event for everyone to enjoy.
“It is our vision to enable young people to discover new things about themselves by providing the opportunity to take part in amazing events. We want to encourage every young person to dream big and achieve much.”
Tickets are on sale for the concert in the Motorpoint arena on Monday 15th July and can be purchased at https://www.thousandvoices.co.uk/buy-tickets/ or https://motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk/whats-on/beyond-words-hit-right-note