Seven youngsters from Gwent have been invited to South Africa to sing with Cape Town Opera next year.
They were selected to perform with the Only Kids Aloud choir of 70 children, based at the Wales Millenium Centre in Cardiff.
Next April the choir will perform in Cape Town as part of the South Africa’s celebrations to mark 20 years of democracy.
Michael Williams, Managing Director of Cape Town Opera, surprised choir members with the invitation as they rehearsed together for the first time on August 28.
Speaking via a video message with Table Mountain in the background, Mr Williams invited youngsters to perform in The Artscape Theatre Centre, near Cape Town’s waterfront.
Mr Williams said in his message: “There have been many months of discussion as to how we can bring the best of Wales to the world, and take the best of the world to Wales. So we’ve come up with an idea that can take you – of course, the best of Wales – to come here… We would like to formally invite you to come to Cape Town as our special guests.”
There were screams of delight from the children, aged between nine and thirteen.
The children from Gwent selected for the choir are Alice Mee Bishop, Ysabelle Clason-Morgan, Xavier Clason-Morgan, Owen Parsons, Samuel James, Carys Lloyd and Kelly Shorthouse.
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