Home > News > Don’t get rid of X Factor Rhydian, says Birmingham lecturer

Don’t get rid of X Factor Rhydian, says Birmingham lecturer

JH/4466 15 October 2007

X Factor finalist Rhydian Roberts may have rubbed judges Sharon Osbourne and Simon Cowell up the wrong way but according to his former lecturer and mentor, he’s a passionate, dedicated and genuine individual whose reputation for being conceited is unjust.

Rhydian Roberts as the Faun in La Calisto by Cavalli; photo by Christian Payne

Director of Theatre Studies Michael Barry at Birmingham Conservatoire, part of Birmingham City University, where baritone Rhydian graduated with First Class honours in the summer says:

“Rhydian was a star pupil at the Conservatoire from the very beginning.  What may come across as conceit is actually passion for what he’s doing, and a justified belief in himself.  He has an exceptional talent which is apparent to all who see and hear him perform, which is why he has made it through to the final stages of the X Factor.”

Originally from Powys, Wales, Rhydian has had a great deal of success since moving to Birmingham five years ago to study at the Conservatoire, where he had lessons first with Adrian Clarke and then with Christine Cairns.

Notably, he was the first singer from outside London to win the prestigious Kathleen Ferrier Society Bursary for Young Singers, beating 13 other second-year vocal students from music colleges around the UK. An esteemed panel of judges composed of internationally renowned singers remarked on his ‘formidable talent’ and his ‘immediate connection with the audience’. 

In his second year he was also auditioned on Barry’s recommendation by the CBSO’s Musical Director Sakari Oramo and cast immediately in the role of Morales in the CBSO’s semi-staged performance of Carmen. Other successes include winning the Cecil Drew Oratorio Prize and securing leading roles in virtually all of the Conservatoire’s major classical operas and musicals during his time as a student.
 
One of Rhydians starring roles was in the Conservatoire’s production of the gothic musical Jekyll and Hyde, which tells the macabre story of Dr Henry Jekyll’s battle with his alter ego, the evil Edward Hyde.

Michael says, “Rhydian was a smash hit with audiences in his portrayal of the tortured two-faced genius, but he’s most certainly not the monster Sharon makes him out to be in real life.

“On behalf of all the staff and students at Birmingham Conservatoire, I just want to say Rhydian, you’re definitely Jekyll and not Hyde and we wish you every success in the first studio programme next Saturday. Sharon, don’t get Rid of Rhydian!”

Ends

About Birmingham Conservatoire
Based in the heart of the city centre only a few minutes’ walk from Symphony Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire offers some of the finest performing and teaching facilities in the country.  Part of Birmingham City University, its expert and dedicated teaching staff educate and train musicians to professional standards in solo performance, composition, chamber music, orchestral playing and jazz. 

There are nearly 500 musicians studying on the Conservatoire’s undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes and its thriving Junior Department provides tuition to nearly 200 of the region’s most talented young musicians aged 3 to 18 in classical music, chamber music, North Indian music and jazz.

For further information please contact Birmingham City University Media Relations Office on 0121 331 6738, email press@bcu.ac.uk or out of hours on 07967 271 532.

More information about Birmingham City University

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