Photo credit: WNO

Opera singer, broadcaster, and recent Celebrity MasterChef winner Wynne Evans has been named the ambassador for the Welsh National Opera’s Dementia Choir Program, Cradle choirs.

The Cradle choirs are community singing groups for people living with dementia. The choir also provides a space for families and caregivers to connect through music and song on a weekly basis.

Evans played a key role in raising awareness for dementia support services and will advocate for Cradle’s work in Welsh communities. He said in a press release, “I am delighted to be involved with this project. I have always been passionate about community singing and throughout my career I have seen first-hand the benefits that music and song can have on people’s mental and physical health. Cradle provides such a worthwhile service to people living with dementia but also for their families and carers, so I really am thrilled to become an ambassador for this work.”

WNO first launched the program with a community choir in Spring 2019. This pilot took place in Swansea and has since expanded to choirs in Milford Haven and Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire. On Sept. 19 a new Cradle choir will be launched in Llanelli in partnership with Carmarthenshire Theatres with the help of Evans.

Vocal Leader David Fortey and pianist Mark Jones will be leading sessions at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli across an eight-week period. During the one-hour sessions, members will sing through a great range of music, from pop to folk, and hymns to arias. Each session starts with interactive warm up activities that engage both the mind and voice. Following practice there is a social period for the members.