[ ClassicalX ] Aled wowed by town choir

Television and radio star Aled Jones lent his golden voice to a choir's 50th anniversary celebrations.

Around 800 music fans packed Hartlepool's Borough Hall on the Headland to hear the Songs of Praise presenter perform.

He made his first visit to town to star in Hartlepool Male Voice Choir's jubilee concert on Saturday night. And Aled vowed it will not be his last trip to Hartlepool after being given a warm welcome by the sell-out audience.

Choir chairman, Duncan Graham, said: "It was absolutely fantastic, a triumph. Aled was delighted and had a great time. His agent emailed me to say he was over the moon with the reception he received and with the concert."

The Welsh singer performed a solo spot and two songs alongside the choir, All Through The Night and the popular hymn How Great Thou Art.

Aled told the thrilled audience they were one of the top three male voice choirs he had ever sang with and talked about the concert the next morning on his Radio 2 show.

Mr Graham, 66, of Seaton Carew, added: "The choir loved it and sang extremely well. The whole audience were on their feet applauding at the end. Aled said it was his first visit to Hartlepool but it won't be his last because of the warm welcome he got."

The concert was the centrepiece of the choir's 50th anniversary celebrations which also featured a jubilee dinner earlier this year. In September, they will sing with the Melbourne Choir at a weekend away in Derbyshire before taking to the stage at Newcastle's City Hall later in the month alongside other choirs from all over the country. Then in November they will appear at the city's Sage music venue in Gateshead.

Source: Hartlepool Mail