Wales rugby team on song
Simon
Thomas, The Western Mail
THE WALES rugby team
are aiming to hit all the right notes both on and off the
field.
Mike
Ruddock's players have embarked on a different sort of training
in readiness for the coming campaign - they are taking singing
lessons.
The
idea is to build up team spirit and to make sure they'll
be suitably prepared if called upon to break into song.
They
have been working with conductor Dr Haydn James, who has
years of experience leading choirs in song at the Millennium
Stadium before big matches.
All
the classics have had an airing in his practice sessions
with the Wales squad, including Calon Lan, Bread of Heaven
and We'll Keep a Welcome in the Hillside.
Wales
team manager Alan Phillips said, "Song is the common
denominator around the world. The players like a sing-song
and it's great for team spirit. We just want to get them
a bit more polished so they'll feel relaxed about it and
won't feel uncomfortable if they are called on to give a
turn at a post-match reception or when they are away on
tour.
"It's
also good that they should know certain Welsh hymns."
Phillips,
Ruddock and the rest of the Welsh management will be exercising
their vocal chords as well, to ensure everyone is singing
from the same song sheet.
"We
will all be joining in," said Phillips. "Mike
is really into music. He can play the guitar and he knows
his songs."
Conductor
James has been helping the players build a repertoire that
will allow them to have something ready for any impromptu
singing sessions and team gatherings.
Nantyffyllon-born
Dr James will again be "the man in the middle"
before all of Wales' six home internationals in the Millennium
Stadium this season.
First
invited to lead the crowd in singing at the old stadium
in 1993, Haydn has worked with a wide range of male voice
and mixed choirs, as well as soloists including Tom Jones,
Michael Ball, Max Boyce, Aled Jones, Jason Howard, Katherine
Jenkins and Hayley Westenra.
Article
link thanks to Jon Voslo
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