Soaring ticket sales, international recognition and an expanding UK and Ireland tour are driving the next chapter of success for one of Wales’ most acclaimed male voice choirs.
Johns’ Boys is building on a decade of growth following two sold-out 10th anniversary concerts at William Aston Hall in Wrexham, with audiences travelling from as far afield as Germany and the United States. The performances featured a 37-piece orchestra and Johns’ Boys Juniors, aged nine to 18, as the choir continues to broaden its appeal, attract new audiences and develop its distinctive blend of traditional and contemporary music.
The Wrexham-based group, which reached the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent in 2023, is also the first and only British male voice choir to win the prestigious Pavarotti Choir of the World title. Demand for tickets is growing ahead of an extensive 2027 tour, with the Dublin concert already close to selling out and larger venues in Wales, Ireland and London being considered for future performances.
Founder and conductor Aled Phillips said the anniversary celebrations had demonstrated how far the choir had come.
“It was an incredible couple of nights and quite overwhelming to see two sold-out audiences celebrating 10 years with us,” he said. “We had people travelling from Germany and even the United States. One gentleman had come all the way from America without a ticket, so we had to spin a few plates and thankfully managed to find him a seat!
“One of the things I was most proud of was seeing the Juniors up there. There were understandably some nerves, but they handled the occasion brilliantly. “We want to inspire the next generation and give young people experiences like this. Performing in front of those audiences alongside Johns’ Boys and a 37-piece orchestra is something they will never forget.”
The choir’s growing profile has created opportunities to perform at prestigious venues across Britain and Ireland, while its investment in developing younger singers is helping secure its long-term future. The 2027 schedule includes Belfast, Dublin, Bristol, Cardiff, Oxford, Liverpool, London and Huddersfield, alongside several Welsh dates.
Aled added: “We like to do things a little differently. We are proud of the traditions of Welsh male voice singing, but we are also contemporary and want to try new things.
“Bringing together the choir, Juniors and orchestra was an exciting mix and where possible we would love to take elements of that into next year.
“Tickets are flying, particularly in Ireland, so we would encourage people to book early.
“We are always thinking about what comes next. The dream one day would be to perform at the STōK Cae Ras in Wrexham. To bring everything home and perform there in front of a huge crowd would be very special.”
