{"id":15223,"date":"2025-05-20T11:12:18","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T09:12:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ceidiog.com\/pr\/?p=15223"},"modified":"2025-05-20T11:12:18","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T09:12:18","slug":"inspirational-blind-singer-izzy-will-be-star-of-the-show-at-music-coops-10th-anniversary-concert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ceidiog.com\/pr\/pr\/inspirational-blind-singer-izzy-will-be-star-of-the-show-at-music-coops-10th-anniversary-concert\/","title":{"rendered":"Inspirational blind singer Izzy will be star of the show at music coop\u2019s 10th anniversary concert"},"content":{"rendered":"

A blind teenage singer\u00a0will be one of the stars of the show at the 10th<\/sup> anniversary concert of a music cooperative that transformed her life.<\/p>\n

Inspirational Isabelle Harrison, 19, from Llandegla, will be centre stage at the North Wales Music Cooperative\u2019s gala event at St Asaph Cathedral on Thursday, June\u00a0 12.<\/p>\n

The concert will be hosted by popular tenor Rhys Meirion who will also be singing on the night.<\/p>\n

It will be a celebration of the impact the music cooperative has had on its former and current students over the last decade.<\/p>\n

Among those taking part will be various ensembles, a pop band and a sign language choir.<\/p>\n

The group is an award-winning, not-for-profit organisation providing quality music tuition with two sister cooperatives in Denbighshire and Wrexham.<\/p>\n

It was formed in 2015 by Head of Service Heather Powell after she and other music tutors in Denbighshire were made redundant due to budget cuts.<\/p>\n

The cooperative expanded into Wrexham in 2018 and now works with more than 100 primary schools and 18 high schools in the two counties while providing work for more than 70 freelance music tutors.<\/p>\n

The concert, starting at 7pm, is being sponsored by the arts-loving care organisation, Pendine Park, via the Pendine Arts and Community Trust which supports arts and community activities.<\/p>\n

Isabele, known as Izzy, is now a student at the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford, the UK\u2019s leading specialist residential college of further education for people with a visual impairment.<\/p>\n

She said the music cooperative had a hugely positive effect on her while she was a student at Ysgol Brynhyfryd, Ruthin.<\/p>\n

Thanks to the work of the cooperative, she says music will always be part of her life \u2013 and she was delighted to be invited to perform at the special concert.<\/p>\n

Izzy said: \u201cIt seems a bit surreal to be asked, it\u2019s a bit like \u2018wow!\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels really good to know that I will be one of the stars of the concert and it feels good to feel my ability is being recognised.<\/p>\n

\u201cSinging gives me such a good feeling, music has always been so important to me.<\/p>\n

\u201cI very first got involved with the music cooperative during a week\u00a0 called Music Mania.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a week of activities one summer based around music and they had a concert at the end, and we learned a dance, we learned songs, we did a little play, it was really fun.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen later the Denbighshire Music Cooperative funded me for singing lessons which were\u00a0really good for me because before that I had only ever been in the school choir.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was nice to get one-to-one tuition and improve aspects of my voice.<\/p>\n

Izzy has been at the Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) since September and did A-levels at New College Worcester, another specialist college for youngsters who are blind or vision impaired.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt New College I did a BTEC in music performance and had singing lessons and was in a musical theatre club.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am paying for singing lessons at RNC and I am in the choir there, so music is very much still a part of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Determined Izzy is not allowing her lack of sight to hold her back from her ambition of being a counsellor.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cI applied to come to RNC to get more qualifications and also to be in a more adult environment and to be more independent before I go to university.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis year I am studying health and social care and then next year I will be doing massage and complementary therapies.<\/p>\n

\u201cI actually want to be a counsellor, a child therapist.\u201d<\/p>\n

Izzy\u2019s mum Rachael Lynch\u00a0commended the work of the music cooperative \u2013 and thanked its leaders for inviting her daughter to perform at the concert.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cI\u2019m absolutely made up that Isabelle has been invited to perform a song at such a special occasion.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe music cooperative as a whole\u00a0organisation are absolutely fantastic, the staff are amazing.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody who works within the team are just such wonderful people and Isabelle has benefited a lot from the\u00a0organisation.\u201d<\/p>\n

According toHeather Powell, Izzy is\u00a0 \u201ctruly inspirational\u201d.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cThrough the opportunities the music service gave Izzy, the wider world of music was opened up to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cMusic has made such a difference to her life, it has given her the confidence to go on and study and live\u00a0away from her mum independently, which as a pupil with zero vision is a huge challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo when we looked at having a gala concert and talked about ex-pupils coming back, Izzy was one for me which was a stand-out because she meant a lot to the service and the service meant a lot to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cIzzy\u00a0doesn\u2019t see herself as having a disability, Izzy is just Izzy.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is a fantastic\u00a0singer and she is certainly a great advocate for our service.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe flies the flag of what we are all about which is every child having the opportunity to learn and enjoy music irrespective of any disability or additional need.<\/p>\n

Heather said the gala concert was shaping up to be a memorable celebration.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cWe\u2019ve got all of our current ensembles and pupils performing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got our annual awards which this year are sponsored by Mario and Gill Kreft from Pendine Park care organisation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pendine Park\u00a0is supporting the event through its Pendine Arts and Community Trust<\/p>\n

Mario said: \u201cThe gala concert is set to be a magnificent celebration of the work the music cooperative does\u00a0and also a fantastic celebration of the power of music.<\/p>\n

\u201cMusic and the arts really do change lives and\u00a0it\u2019s vital they are supported and also celebrated, and the gala concert will do just that.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is set to be a wonderful evening and is an opportunity to recognise the great work the music cooperative has carried out over the last decade.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tickets can be bought via Eventbrite: <\/strong>https:\/\/www.eventbrite.co.uk\/e\/1302934765959?aff=oddtdtcreator<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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