Katherine Jenkins
Katherine Jenkins
Katherine Jenkins (born 29 June 1980) is a Welsh classical-popular crossover singer. Her albums feature a mixture of arias, popular songs, hymns and light classical music.
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Katherine Jenkins was born in Neath, Wales, where she and her sister Laura were raised by their parents Selwyn John (1924-1995) and Susan. She has two half-sisters from her father's first marriage, neither of whom she has met. She attended Alderman Davies Church in Wales Primary School in Neath and later Dwr-y-Felin Comprehensive School (also in her home town of Neath), received A grades in GCSEs and A Levels and participated in productions such as Calamity Jane and Guys and Dolls.
She attended singing and lessons with singing and piano teacher Mark Ritzmann and passed her Grade 8 examinations with distinction in both singing and piano. Between 1990 and 1996 Jenkins was a member of the Royal School of Church Music Cathedral Singers and won the St Cecilia Award, the highest RSCM award for female choristers. She was also a member of the National Youth Choir of Wales for three years won the BBC Radio 2 Welsh Choirgirl of the Year contest (twice) and the BET Welsh Choirgirl of the Year competition.
She was also awarded the Pelenna Valley Male Voice Choir Scholarship for the most promising young singer. At the age of 17 she won a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music, where she also studied Italian, German, French and Russian, graduating with honours and receiving a music teacher's diploma. After working as a freelance singing teacher and as a mode she entered a modelling competition and became the Face of Wales 2000. She then decided to follow a musical career.
Universal Classics & Jazz heard her demo and she was invited to an interview at which she sang Rossini's "Una voce poco fa". Universal offered Jenkins a six-album deal, the most lucrative in the United Kingdom's classical recording history, reportedly worth £1 million.
Katherine will start 2010 by appearing as one of two mentors on ITV1'S prime time Friday night show, POPSTAR TO OPERA STAR. The show goes out live every Friday night at 9pm from 15th January to 19th February.
Official Website: www.katherinejenkins.co.uk
