A CWMBRAN singer is celebrating after successfully obtaining a place in this years Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland (RIBI) District Rotary Club Young Musician Competition.

Fifteen year-old Rhianwen Hallows, a pupil at Llantarnam School, Cwmbran, is delighted after obtaining a place in this year’s RIBI District Rotary Club Young Musician Competition. The competition offers thousands of young people the opportunity to demonstrate their musical skills.

Starting with club level competitions, winners progress to district events followed by regional contests with the hope of appearing at the national final. The year 11 student is a young mezzo-soprano, who has had a passion for music from a young age, completed her music GCSE in Year 10, achieving a grade A.

Rhianwen decided to go for the competition following encouragement by her school music teacher Tracey Pearce.

“It is a fantastic opportunity for one of our pupils,” she said.

“She has done exceptionally well.

“She is a brilliant performer and this competition will open doors for her.”

Rhianwen has already completed the first round if the competition getting through to the district round for south and mid Wales on March 8.

The next round will then be a four district round in Ebbw Vale on March 29 and the final in Cornwall in May 3.

Her mother Donna Hallows is extremely proud of her daughter’s achievements.

“Rhianwen has always had a talent for singing and music and she also loves acting,” she said.

“She has been singing since she was nine years old and had singing lessons with her tutor Evelyn Nicholson, who is an opera singer and has worked with Rhianwen for a number of years.

“She is only 15 she has already done a diploma in music and has points for university.

“In her music exams she has also achieved a distinction.

“She has a unique voice as she is able to sing both soprano and alto.

“She loves singing and we are very proud of her.”

She has also recently completed her Advanced Diploma in Performing with Distinction and has a natural flair for music and drama, playing the part of Nancy in the forthcoming School Musical production of Oliver!

Rhianwen is also a member of the NIDUS Company and will be performing in Llangollen National Eisteddfod, then going to Latvia for the Choral Competition.

The next round of the competition will take place on March 8 at the Ebbw Fawr Learning Community (Secondary Phase Campus) Lime Avenue, Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, NP23 6GL.