My love for singing and performing came at the age of seven. A birthday present of mine was to see the West End musical ‘The Phantom Of The Opera’.

Since then my ambition has been to be a performer on the West End stage or as a solo singer... I performed anywhere I could as long as I got to sing in front of an audience. At seven years old I joined the school choir. I also performed to family and friends my very own special version of hits of the time such as the Spice Girls or my parent’s classic records of Fleetwood Mac and ABBA. Not forgetting the Christmas special of those hit numbers from the musical ‘White Christmas’... every Christmas Time!

It came to the point where my mother offered me the choice of continuing my violin lessons, or choosing to take up voice lessons when I began secondary school. I chose voice.

Rhiannon meets Ruthie Henshall backstage at the Palace Theatre, London

Studying singing alongside my GCSE’s and A-levels was always something I enjoyed, but I came to a point during my AS-level exams where I realised that I really wanted a career in music. I entered a competition organised by Rosetta Bains and judged by Jonathan Shalit in November 2005, which I won, resulting in meeting Ruthie Henshall. This sparked a belief deep down inside that maybe I do have the talent to sing and that it isn’t essential to come from or join from a young age a stage school as the only means of success. You have to work hard to get there but if you have the talent and self-belief somehow it will happen.

I am still studying A-levels in Music, Theatre Studies and Psychology, yet I have gone on to achieve top scores in my grade-8 exam and have even gained a diploma in Musical Theatre from the ‘London College of Music’.

I went on to win another national singing competition called ‘festival4stars’ for solo singing at the age of 16 and reached the final of 'UK Unsigned' in November 2006. Both of these competitions have helped to build my confidence and were memorable experiences.

But a huge realisation of my love and passion for classical music came from entering the ‘two moors festival’ in 2006 and again this year. This competition runs in conjunction with Classic fm and I have reached the final both times and am awaiting the results of this year’s final.

Rhiannon pictured with Alfie Boe and Natasha Marsh at the Classic fm 'Live and Uploaded'

Winning Classic fm’s ‘Live and Uploaded’ competition with Intel has sparked a potential career in classical music, bringing my dream closer to reality and meeting two fabulous classical stars, Natasha Marsh and Alfie Boe, who were so down to earth they inspired me further and made me even more determined to succeed!

Performing at S.T Johns in Westminster with them has been the highlight of my singing career so far and something I will never forget.

I am a member of BODS ’Bath Operatic and Dramatic Society’, ‘Starry Eyes’ Trowbridge (a Wiltshire-based performance foundation for young children in the area). Have had many enjoyable amateur experiences with Melksham Comedy Club where I have performed in annual pantomimes and variety shows, and for ‘Loganwest’ youth theatre productions the last two years when I had the chance to perform in ‘Les Miserables’ as Cosette and Rapunzel in ‘Into The Woods’.

Balancing A-levels at an ordinary secondary school, my singing and a part time job in the kitchen of an all girl’s school can get tiring but I wouldn’t change it for anything, I love my life, my friends and family and will stop at nothing to succeed and be happy.

Many thanks to Amelia Classics in Chippenham (www.ameliaclassics.co.uk)
for the amazing dresses they supply me with.