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| Only Men Aloud! | |
|---|---|
| Name | Only Men Aloud! |
| Origin | Cardiff, Wales |
| Genres | choral music, classical music, gospel music, pop music |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Label | Sony Classical, Universal Music Group |
| Associated acts | Ysgol Glanaethwy, Welsh National Opera, Michael Ball, Katherine Jenkins |
Only Men Aloud! is a Welsh male voice choir founded in Cardiff and known for blending traditional Welsh choral tradition with contemporary pop music and classical crossover repertoire. The ensemble rose to prominence through high-profile concerts, broadcast appearances, and studio recordings, collaborating with figures from opera and popular music and performing at venues associated with national ceremonies and international festivals.
The choir was established in 2000 in Cardiff by conductor and arranger Tim Rhys-Evans, who drew on influences from Tolkien, Tom Jones, Bryan Ferry, Dame Shirley Bassey and the legacy of Sir Geraint Evans to create a modern male choir. Early engagements included performances connected to St David's Day events and charity concerts alongside ensembles from Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and soloists from Welsh National Opera. A breakthrough came with televised appearances on programmes alongside presenters from BBC One and ITV and shared bills with artists associated with Royal Variety Performance and festivals at venues such as Royal Albert Hall and Millennium Stadium. Over time the choir expanded membership, adapted repertoire with arrangers influenced by John Rutter and Karl Jenkins, and participated in collaborations with acts linked to Universal Music Group and Sony Classical.
Membership has included singers recruited from choirs and institutions across Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan University, and the community music scene in Wales. Leadership has featured founder Tim Rhys-Evans alongside vocal coaches and arrangers who trained at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and worked with soloists like Katherine Jenkins and Aled Jones. Guest soloists and collaborators have included Dame Kiri Te Kanawa-associated artists, session musicians connected to Tom Jones and Michael Ball, and conductors who have worked with BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
The choir's repertoire spans arrangements of folk song traditions from Wales such as Calon Lân and settings influenced by composers like Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst, as well as adaptations of Beatles songs, Queen anthems, and contemporary pop tracks. They have performed crossover material arranged in styles reminiscent of John Rutter, Karl Jenkins, and Eric Whitacre, and have incorporated works associated with opera stars such as Plácido Domingo and Andrea Bocelli in collaborative concerts. Programming has mixed sacred pieces with secular medleys, drawing links to festival repertoires at venues including Wembley Stadium, Swansea Arena, and St David's Hall.
Studio albums released on labels tied to Sony Classical and Universal Music Group showcase a mixture of traditional Welsh hymns, classical arrangements, and pop covers. Releases have been produced with engineers and producers who have worked on recordings for Katy Perry, Adele, Elton John, and Barbra Streisand, bringing crossover production values similar to projects by Il Divo and The Ten Tenors. Albums have included choral arrangements of works by George Frideric Handel and Ludwig van Beethoven alongside modern compositions premiered in collaboration with composers linked to BBC Proms programming.
The ensemble has toured across United Kingdom venues including Royal Albert Hall, Cardiff Millennium Centre, and festival stages at Glastonbury Festival-adjacent events, and has appeared internationally at concerts associated with embassies and cultural programmes in Paris, New York City, and Tokyo. They have performed at civic and sporting events hosted at Millennium Stadium and participated in national commemorations alongside representatives of Welsh Government and ceremonial figures from Buckingham Palace functions. Collaborations on tour have included shared bills with artists connected to Michael Ball, Dame Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, and ensemble exchanges with choirs such as The Sixteen and The King's Singers.
The choir and its members have received accolades from Welsh cultural institutions, awards connected to BBC Music Magazine coverage, and nominations in categories analogous to those of the BRIT Awards and Grammy Awards for choral and crossover recordings. Recognition has also come via civic honors presented in Cardiff and listings in national media outlets including The Guardian, The Telegraph, and features on BBC Radio Wales highlighting contributions to Welsh musical life.
Broadcast appearances include performances on BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, and radio broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio Wales, and televised slots during events with presenters from Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor. The choir has been featured in documentary segments produced by teams associated with Channel 4 and cultural programmes tied to BBC Proms promotions, and has recorded sessions for channels linked to Sky Arts and international outlets with connections to NHK and PBS.
Category:Welsh choirs Category:Vocal ensembles