SELCSA FIRST WINNER 2004


          Joe Morgan


Jo Morgan is eighteen. He was Head Boy at Penyrheol, where he starred in several school productions, taking the lead in 'Oklahoma'. He is now studying Music, Music Technology, German and Italian at Gorseinon College.

A versatile and accomplished singer, Joe sings with All Saints Choir Oystermouth, the National Youth Choir of Wales, the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, Welsh National Youth Opera and with professional choir 'Only Men Aloud'. Last year he played Pish Tush in the Welsh National Youth Opera production of 'Milado', as well as singing the bass solo in Mozart's 'Requiem' with the Swansea Philharmonia Choir, the part of Joseph in a concert performance of 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat' and gave a stunning portrayal of 'Gabriel' in an originsl musical, 'Hello Jesus'. Last February he was guest soloist at All Saints in a charity concert organised by the Mumbles Rotarians that raised £1700 for Morriston Hospital's Maxillofacial Injuries Unit. In September, Joe gave a recital in the All Saints Alive Festival in Oystermouth.

Joe has just completed the audition for conservatoire admission and has been offered major scholarships at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the Royal Northern College of Music, where he was invited back to sing in a post-graduate masterclass, and a place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he will follow in the footsteps of Bryn Terfel to study with Rudolf Piernay.

As a member of the Ariosa Singers, Joe has sung several fundraising concerts helping to raise almost £3000 for charities. He plays piano and classical guitar and gained a distinction for his Grade 8 singing examination. As a result of this achievement he was selected to perform in the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music High Scorers Concert last October winning a prize for outstanding vocal achievement.

At Easter, Joe sang at the famous Birmingham Symphony Hall with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain directed by Mike Brewer. He was the baritone soloist and cantor with All Saints Choir Oystermouth in a recent BBC Wales radio religious broadcast and he is the first recipient of the S.E.L.C.S. Award.

Hi is a founder member of 'Souled Out', a local soul band, very popular in the community, which raises much money for charity.

His siging teacher is Penny Ryan OBE FRSA. His regular accompanist is Hywel Evans, a third year Bmus student at the Royal Welsh College of Music, Cardiff.

(May 2004)