One of the most talented young tenors in the UK will have a starring role at a concert to launch a top music festival.

Welsh National Opera singer Rhodri Prys Jones, who comes from Llanwddyn, will be performing at St Asaph Cathedral on June 25, at the curtain raiser for the acclaimed North Wales International Music Festival.

Rhodri, who will be accompanied by pianist Conal Bembridge-Sayers, said he is excited about making his festival debut during what is a busy year for the 26-year-old.

Currently covering the role of Tamino in the Magic Flute with the Welsh National Opera (WNO), Rhodri says he’s been busy since graduating from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama last summer.

He said: “I’ve been fortunate to have performed at most of the UK’s major iconic venues. As a proud Welshman my main ambition was to perform on my national stage at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff. I managed that when I performed in War and Peace playing the role of Fyodor.

“I’ve also sung at the Royal Albert Hall as a soloist in the Thousand Voices concert in 2016 and in July of this year I’m going to experience my debut at Covent Garden when I play Fyodor in War and Peace.

“I was also chosen to perform as a guest soloist at the London Welsh Festival of Male Voice Choirs and at a gala dinner performance for His Highness Prince Charles.

“It will be a special evening at the cathedral and I’m delighted to have been chosen to perform at the festival’s launch concert.”

An award from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) where he studied led to the young tenor joining Welsh legendary singer Dame Shirley Bassey for dinner.

The international festival will be staged at the same venue from September 14 to 28, thanks to support from the Arts Council of Wales and Tŷ Cerdd.

Other highlights will include performances from pianist Teleri-Siân, the junior and senior piano trios from the William Mathias Music Centre, Côr Cytgan Clwyd and a quartet from the festival’s resident orchestra, NEW Sinfonia.

Artistic director Ann Atkinson said: “It’s going to be a very special evening. Rhodri Prys Jones is an amazing talent.

“The theme for this year’s festival will be Mother Earth. So many composers have been inspired by our beautiful world and all the nature within it. Beethoven, for example, often used nature as inspiration for his compositions and often said he preferred the company of a tree to that of a human being."

Launch concert tickets are £10 and available from Cathedral Frames, 28 High Street, St Asaph, 01745 582929 (open Tuesday to Friday, 10.00am to 4.30pm) or from caroline@nwimf.com.

Festival tickets will go on sale after the launch concert.