27/7/2009

Welsh prizewinning choral sensation, Only Men Aloud, will headline this year's BBC Proms in the Park at Swansea's Singleton Park on Saturday September 12.

The event is being supported by Swansea Council and National Savings and Investments and tickets are now on sale.

BBC Proms in the Park will also feature Welsh soprano Elin Manahan Thomas with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the Swansea Bach Choir conducted by Grant Llewellyn.

The live broadcast event will be presented by Gethin Jones and Josie D'Arby.

Simultaneous concerts will also be held at Glasgow, County Down, Salford and London and crowds are encouraged to bring picnics and flags, to sing-a-long and enjoy the music and fireworks.

Cllr Graham Thomas, Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism, said: "The BBC Proms in the Park event is one of the highlights of Swansea's annual calendar and helps to further put the city on the map.

"Some of the finest classical musicians in the world have performed in Singleton Park over the years and it's terrific news that Only Men Aloud will be headlining in just a few months time. Winning a hit TV programme such as Last Choir Standing shows just how popular they are and I'm sure they'll make a huge contribution to yet another successful concert in Swansea."

BBC Cymru Wales Head of Broadcast Development Cathryn Allen said: "Only Men Aloud will be a fantastic headline performance for this year's BBC Proms in the Park and BBC Wales is very pleased to offer people the chance to see them live at the Swansea event."

Only Men Aloud was formed in 2000 by dynamic musical director Tim Rhys-Evans and its singers include young teachers, musicians, students, a gardener and a pharmacist. Catapulted to stardom as winners of the BBC's Last Choir Standing, the choir has collaborated with many artists including Bryn Terfel, Josh Groban, Jose Carreras, Shân Cothi, Karl Jenkins, Charlotte Church, Cerys Matthews and Neath's mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins, who will be performing for the first time at the BBC Proms event at Hyde Park in London.

BBC Proms in the Park will bring the magic of the Last Night of the Proms to tens of thousands of people throughout the UK in five large-scale outdoor events in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Every Proms event is centred on a live concert- each with its own high-profile artists, BBC orchestras and presenters.

The evening will culminate in a live link-up with the Royal Albert Hall for the traditional festivities to round off the world's biggest music festival.

This year's Swansea concert is broadcast live on BBC Radio Wales. Televised highlights of all five Proms in the Park are shown as part of BBC ONE and BBC TWO's live coverage of the Last Night of the Proms.

Tickets cost £8 in advance or £10 on the day and under 12s can enter for free if accompanied by an adult.

Tickets are available at:

* Online at www.bbc.co.uk/proms

* From the BBC National Orchestra of Wales Audience Line on 03700 101051 (Lines are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 9pm).

* From Swansea's Grand Theatre on Singleton Street either in person or by calling 01792 475715.