Press Release
22nd April, 2014
ALED JONES BECOMES YOUTH MUSIC AMBASSADOR
The National Foundation for Youth Music announced today that Aled Jones has become an Ambassador for the charity. Aled’s career, spanning over 25 years, has embraced singing, acting, dancing, writing as well as radio and TV presenting.
He has become a regular face on television, most recently as presenter of ITV’s flagship morning programme ‘Daybreak’ and on the BBC’s ‘Songs of Praise’. Aled launches his own new ITV show ‘Weekend’ this coming Saturday at 8.30am, ITV1. He also presents a weekly Sunday music programme on Classic FM as well as his own chat show on BBC Radio Wales.
Aled says: “Music has played a huge part in my life from a very young age and has helped me to become the person I am. Learning to sing and perform in public really helped to develop my confidence as well as my musical skills so I know how powerful it is to support disadvantaged young people as they explore and develop their creativity in making music. Youth Music simply changes their lives.”
Youth Music’s Executive Director, Matt Griffiths says: “We are thrilled that Aled has become one of our Ambassadors. He combines his musical pedigree with a rare popular appeal and we know that music is in his heart. For every child we support, we know there is at least one more waiting for our help. We are very grateful that Aled is helping us in this work to reach out to those who are missing out on the opportunity to make music.”
Aled recently talked about his reasons for helping Youth Music in a video thanking players of People’s Postcode Lottery for £100,000 in support of this work. People’s Postcode Lottery is a charity lottery and funding from players has contributed £39.9 million to good causes. Aled’s video can be viewed at http://www.youthmusic.org.uk/what-we-do/news/aled-jones-becomes-youth-music-ambassador.html
Youth Music is a national charity using music to transform the lives of over 90,000 disadvantaged children and young people every year. It supports over 400 music organisations around the country providing music-making opportunities, across all genres, for children living in challenging circumstances. These circumstances may include coping with disability or special educational needs, living in care, in poverty or in rural isolation. Projects range from supporting seriously ill young babies in hospitals to using music to help teenagers into further education or employment.
Born in Bangor, Aled Jones shot to fame as a 12-year-old for his version of Walking In The Air, the theme tune to Raymond Briggs' ‘The Snowman’. The recording reached number 5 in the UK charts and made Aled the most famous chorister in the country. He has recorded 29 albums, selling over 6 million copies, and has released two music-themed books, ‘Aled’s Favourite 40 Hymns’ and ‘Favourite Christmas Carols’. He has performed a variety of roles in musicals including Joseph in ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’ and Caractacus Potts in ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’.
ENDS
Pic Attached: Caption: Aled Jones has become an Ambassador for Youth Music
Notes to Editors:
ABOUT YOUTH MUSIC
· Youth Music believes that music-making is life-changing and the charity wants the opportunity for music-making to be available to all children. Every year, Youth Music provides more than 90,000 young people with the chance to take part in a local music project.
· Many of these children and young people face challenges in their lives including coping with disability, homelessness or living in care. Others simply need help to develop their full musical talent and potential.
· In addition to developing musical skills, Youth Music projects help young people to develop their creative and social skills, make positive contributions to their community and live happy, successful lives. Youth Music projects work across all music genres.
· Youth Music currently supports over 400 music projects around the country
· The charity knows that many more young people still need its help and continues to fundraise to realise its mission to ensure that all children and young people have access to life-changing music-making opportunities.
· Find out more about the work of Youth Music by visiting www.youthmusic.org.uk
For enquiries about Youth Music please contact:
David O’Keeffe,
Media and PR Consultant,
Youth Music
E: david.okeeffe@youthmusic.org.uk
M: 07977 067576.
David O’Keeffe
Media and PR Consultant
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National Foundation for Youth Music
M :07977 067576
Join us in supporting life-changing music-making.
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Suites 3-5, Swan Court, 9 Tanner Street, London, SE1 3LE
Registered charity 1075032
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