Shân Cothi
Encyclopedia
Shân Cothi is a Welsh
classical singer, presenter and actress. She was born and raised the daughter of a blacksmith in the tiny village of Ffarmers
(Ffarmers.org) in
Carmarthenshire
. She graduated in Music and Drama from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
. She has been honoured with Fellowships from both the University of Wales, Aberystwyth
and the University of Wales, Lampeter
.
She began her career as a music teacher at Caereinion High School, Powys
, before moving to Ysgol Ystalyfera in South Wales. In 1995 she won the prestigious Blue Riband
Prize at the Abergele
National Eisteddfod which prompted her to turn professional.
Shân has performed throughout the world in a variety of venues from the Wales Millennium Centre
to Her Majesty's Theatre, West End
, from the Royal Albert Hall
to the Kowloon Shanghai Hotel, Hong Kong
.
Her career as a singer has spanned an incredible range of music styles, from opera
to oratorio
, music theatre to traditional Welsh songs and a host of contemporary projects working with respected musicians form different musical genres. Shân's explanation is that it is a natural instinct which enables her to be so passionate about performing and after many years of wondering which direction to take as a singer, she has realised, with the help of her coach Ian Baar, that this ability to change styles makes her stand out from other performers.
In 1998-1999, Shân was given her own self-titled television series for S4C
which ran for two successful seasons, won a BAFTA award and was nominated for the best music programme in the Montreaux Festival. Shân's big break came when she decided to audition for Cameron Mackintosh
.
In 2000 she was offered the role of the fiery Carlotta
in Andrew Lloyd Webber
's The Phantom of the Opera
and performed the role for 15 months at Her Majesty's Theatre
in the West End
.
In 2005, Shân got the role of Davina Roberts, the conductor of "Côr Meibion Gwili" in Con Passionate
, a Welsh language
-television drama series on S4C
. The show is a huge success, won several BAFTAs and first prize in the Rose d'Or
awards.
In 2008, Shân, along with Bryn Terfel
and the remaining members of Tigertailz
re-recorded the Tigertailz song "I Believe" along with a video which switches between Terfel and Cothi singing their respective parts of the song.
In 2009, Shân began presenting a new series for S4C with Iolo Williams
, called Bro. This series sees them travel all over Wales getting to know different areas through its people, its landscape and its history.
, the bassist with popular Glam metal
band Tigertailz
. Smith had become a television producer after the band's early success, going on to become the producer of BBC Wales
flagship political programme "Dragon's Eye".
On 18 September 2007, in Penarth
, Vale of Glamorgan
, less than a month after their marriage, Smith lost his battle with pancreatic cancer
, at the age of 42.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
classical singer, presenter and actress. She was born and raised the daughter of a blacksmith in the tiny village of Ffarmers
Ffarmers
Ffarmers is a village near Lampeter, in the north of Carmarthenshire, Wales. It was named after the old "Farmers' Arms" public house, which is now closed. The double "f" in the name comes from the Welsh language spelling of the "f" sound in "farmers"...
(Ffarmers.org) in
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
. She graduated in Music and Drama from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth University is a university located in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding Member Institution of the former federal University of Wales. As of late 2006, the university had over 12,000 students spread across seventeen academic departments.The university was founded in 1872 as...
. She has been honoured with Fellowships from both the University of Wales, Aberystwyth
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth University is a university located in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding Member Institution of the former federal University of Wales. As of late 2006, the university had over 12,000 students spread across seventeen academic departments.The university was founded in 1872 as...
and the University of Wales, Lampeter
University of Wales, Lampeter
University of Wales, Lampeter is a university in Lampeter, Wales. Founded in 1822 by royal charter, it is the oldest degree awarding institution in Wales and may be the third oldest in England and Wales after Oxford and Cambridge...
.
She began her career as a music teacher at Caereinion High School, Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
, before moving to Ysgol Ystalyfera in South Wales. In 1995 she won the prestigious Blue Riband
Blue Riband
The Blue Riband is an unofficial accolade given to the passenger liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean in regular service with the record highest speed. The term was borrowed from horse racing and was not widely used until after 1910. Under the unwritten rules, the record is based on average speed...
Prize at the Abergele
Abergele
Abergele is a community and old Roman trading town, situated on the north coast of Wales between the holiday resorts of Colwyn Bay and Rhyl, in Conwy County Borough. Its northern suburb of Pensarn lies on the Irish Sea coast and is known for its beach, where it is claimed by some that a ghost ship...
National Eisteddfod which prompted her to turn professional.
Shân has performed throughout the world in a variety of venues from the Wales Millennium Centre
Wales Millennium Centre
Wales Millennium Centre is an arts centre located in the Cardiff Bay area of Cardiff, Wales. The site covers a total area of . Phase 1 of the building was opened during the weekend of the 26–28 November 2004 and phase 2 opened on 22 January 2009 with an inaugural concert...
to Her Majesty's Theatre, West End
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
, from the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
to the Kowloon Shanghai Hotel, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.
Her career as a singer has spanned an incredible range of music styles, from opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
to oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
, music theatre to traditional Welsh songs and a host of contemporary projects working with respected musicians form different musical genres. Shân's explanation is that it is a natural instinct which enables her to be so passionate about performing and after many years of wondering which direction to take as a singer, she has realised, with the help of her coach Ian Baar, that this ability to change styles makes her stand out from other performers.
In 1998-1999, Shân was given her own self-titled television series for S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
which ran for two successful seasons, won a BAFTA award and was nominated for the best music programme in the Montreaux Festival. Shân's big break came when she decided to audition for Cameron Mackintosh
Cameron Mackintosh
Sir Cameron Anthony Mackintosh is a British theatrical producer notable for his association with many commercially successful musicals. At the height of his success in 1990, he was described as being "the most successful, influential and powerful theatrical producer in the world" by the New York...
.
In 2000 she was offered the role of the fiery Carlotta
Carlotta
Carlotta is an Australian cabaret performer and television celebrity. She began her career as an original member of the long-running Les Girls cabaret show, performed entirely by heavily costumed males, which started in 1963 in the purpose built Les Girls building which stood on a prominent...
in Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
's The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)
The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux.The music was composed by Lloyd Webber, and most lyrics were written by Charles Hart, with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. Alan Jay Lerner was an early collaborator,...
and performed the role for 15 months at Her Majesty's Theatre
Her Majesty's Theatre
Her Majesty's Theatre is a West End theatre, in Haymarket, City of Westminster, London. The present building was designed by Charles J. Phipps and was constructed in 1897 for actor-manager Herbert Beerbohm Tree, who established the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art at the theatre...
in the West End
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
.
In 2005, Shân got the role of Davina Roberts, the conductor of "Côr Meibion Gwili" in Con Passionate
Con Passionate
Con Passionate is a Welsh language television drama series, written by Siwan Jones and directed by Rhys Powys for S4C. The first two series were Teledu Apollo productions.-Plot:...
, a Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
-television drama series on S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
. The show is a huge success, won several BAFTAs and first prize in the Rose d'Or
Rose d'Or
The Rose d’Or is one of the most important international festivals in entertainment television. It was founded in Montreux in 1961 and has taken place in Lucerne since 2004. Producers, executives from independent and public service broadcasters and heads of production companies from over 40...
awards.
In 2008, Shân, along with Bryn Terfel
Bryn Terfel
Bryn Terfel Jones CBE is a Welsh bass-baritone opera and concert singer. Terfel was initially associated with the roles of Mozart, particularly Figaro and Leporello, but has subsequently shifted his attention to heavier roles, especially those by Wagner....
and the remaining members of Tigertailz
Tigertailz
Tigertailz are a glam metal band hailing from Cardiff, Wales. They are most famous for their 1990 album, Bezerk, which made the Top 40 in the UK Albums Chart, and spawned a couple of successful singles...
re-recorded the Tigertailz song "I Believe" along with a video which switches between Terfel and Cothi singing their respective parts of the song.
In 2009, Shân began presenting a new series for S4C with Iolo Williams
Iolo Williams
Iolo Tudur Williams is a Welsh nature observer and television presenter, best known for his BBC and S4C nature shows.-Biography:...
, called Bro. This series sees them travel all over Wales getting to know different areas through its people, its landscape and its history.
Marriage
On 30 August 2007 Shân married long term partner Huw Justin Smith, aka Pepsi TatePepsi Tate
Pepsi Tate was the bass guitarist of Welsh Glam Metal band Tigertailz who made the Top 40 in the UK Albums Chart in the early 1990s...
, the bassist with popular Glam metal
Glam metal
Glam metal is a subgenre of hard rock and heavy metal that arose in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the United States, particularly on the Los Angeles Sunset Strip music scene...
band Tigertailz
Tigertailz
Tigertailz are a glam metal band hailing from Cardiff, Wales. They are most famous for their 1990 album, Bezerk, which made the Top 40 in the UK Albums Chart, and spawned a couple of successful singles...
. Smith had become a television producer after the band's early success, going on to become the producer of BBC Wales
BBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
flagship political programme "Dragon's Eye".
On 18 September 2007, in Penarth
Penarth
Penarth is a town and seaside resort in the Vale of Glamorgan , Wales, 5.2 miles south west from the city centre of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff and lying on the north shore of the Severn Estuary at the southern end of Cardiff Bay...
, Vale of Glamorgan
Vale of Glamorgan
The Vale of Glamorgan is a county borough in Wales; an exceptionally rich agricultural area, it lies in the southern part of Glamorgan, South Wales...
, less than a month after their marriage, Smith lost his battle with pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
, at the age of 42.