A NEWCASTLE Emlyn man hopes to hit the right note in the singing world after being accepted in to the Wales International Academy of Voice in Cardiff.

Ceri Davies will be working under the Welsh tenor Dennis O'Neill CBE, who founded the academy to provide advanced voice, music and drama coaching to young professional opera singers from all over the world in the early stages of their careers.

The academy’s president is New Zealand opera star Dame Kri Te Kanawa, who comes over a few times a year to give master classes.

“I consider myself very lucky to be given this chance,” said 25-year-old tenor Ceri, who will begin a two-year Bachelor of Arts course in September, with the option after that of a one-year Masters degree.

“I did an opera in November with Opera Teifi and the director there Stephen Pilkington encouraged me to go for it.

“I sent in an application and went to a master class to see what it is all about and was then lucky enough to be offered an interview and to then get a place on the course.”

Ceri, who currently works as a craftsman on the historic machines at the National Wool Museum at Drefach Felindre, has been singing with choirs since 2010, starting out with Penparc YFC and it has slowly got more serious as time has passed. He is taught by Carol Davies.

“Singing is a sort of therapy for me and music makes me so happy,” he said.

“To be able to do something for a living that makes me happy and also gives joy to other people is a dream really – it’s a double whammy.”

Ceri currently sings with Newcastle Emlyn Rugby Club choir, of which he is a founder member and secretary. He recently performed with the choir at a charity fund-raising event for the Tivyside Parkinson’s group, where he sang solo ‘The Fields of Athenry’.

“It was a bit nerve-racking that night. I did not have my normal pianist, we had not had chance to run through it and I had not sung that song for about four years,” he said.

“I usually like being organised but it seemed to go okay.

“I am now looking forward to starting at the academy. I hope to go on and make a career in singing – I don’t mind where or how, as long as I can sing.”