Only Men Aloud! biography
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Only Men Aloud are a TV talent show-winning, chart-topping choral group from Cardiff.
Choral conductor Tim Rhys-Evans says, "One of the soundtracks of my childhood was all the local male choirs. And we would not be doing what we are doing today if it were not for those centuries of tradition.".
He set out to choose music that would appeal to young men, and began to introduce choreography to their performances. "I wanted to find a way of getting young men interested in singing in choirs," he explains.
"I think young men tend to relax in each other's company and something quite magical happens."
"I think Only Men Aloud! reflects my own eclectic musical tastes from early chant through to pop songs and musical theatre via opera, sacred music, folk songs and 20th century male choir repertoire," he adds.
Before entering Last Choir Standing, Only Men Aloud! had already worked with big names including Aled Jones, Katherine Jenkins, Bryn Terfel, Michael Ball and Karl Jenkins, and were the first live act to perform in the Wales Millennium Centre, at a dinner for Shirley Bassey.
Of the TV show, Tim says, "It managed to capture the essence of Only Men Aloud! - the camaraderie between a bunch of fun-loving guys who get a massive kick out of coming together and singing."
In October 2009 the band held auditions for a new member at Cardiff's Millennium Centre. In the same month, they released the highly successful Band Of Brothers album, which in May 2010 was declared Album of the Year at the Classical Brits.
In December 2010, they undertook a 16-date UK tour, and appeared as special guests on the Christmas Day edition of Strictly Come Dancing.
