- Born:
- June 29, 1980, Neath, Glamorgan, Wales (age 46)
Katherine Jenkins
-
Who is Katherine Jenkins?
Katherine Jenkins (born June 29, 1980) is a Welsh mezzo-soprano known for her mainstream appeal and versatility in opera, hymns, Welsh folk music, show tunes, and pop songs. Classic FM recognized her as the best-selling classical albums artist of the 21st century in 2020.
Jenkins began studying piano and singing at age seven and, in the 1990s, was a member of the Royal School of Church Music Cathedral Singers and the National Youth Choir of Wales. At 17, she earned a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London. Her public profile grew in 2003, and her debut album, Premiere, was released in 2004, topping Britainâs classical album chart.
She is also recognized for her charitable efforts, including running the London Marathon for Macmillan Cancer Support in 2013 and performing for British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2014, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her contributions to music and charity.
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What does it mean to be a mezzo-soprano?
A mezzo-soprano is a vocal range between a soprano and an alto. The mezzo-soprano range typically spans from the A below middle C to the second F or G above middle C.
Katherine Jenkins, born in Wales in 1980, is a versatile mezzo-soprano known for her mainstream appeal. Jenkins performs opera, hymns, Welsh folk music, show tunes, and pop songs. In 2020, she was named the best-selling classical albums artist of the 21st century by Classic FM.
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Where is Katherine Jenkins from and how did her Welsh background influence her career?
Katherine Jenkins, born in Neath, Glamorgan, Wales, on June 29, 1980, is a Welsh mezzo-soprano celebrated for her mainstream appeal and versatility in opera, hymns, Welsh folk music, show tunes, and pop songs.
Jenkins's career was influenced by her Welsh background through her incorporation of traditional Welsh songs into her albums. Her debut album, Premiere, released in 2004, featured a mix of classical favorites and traditional Welsh songs and quickly reached the top of Britain's classical album music chart. Jenkins was a member of the National Youth Choir of Wales in the 1990s. Classic FM recognized her as the best-selling classical albums artist of the 21st century in 2020.
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What kind of music does Katherine Jenkins perform?
Katherine Jenkins is a Welsh mezzo-soprano known for her mainstream appeal and versatility. She performs opera, hymns, Welsh folk music, show tunes, and pop songs.
Jenkins began studying music at a young age, eventually earning a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she performed in operas while studying foreign languages. Her debut album, Premiere, released in 2004, featured a mix of classical favorites and traditional Welsh songs and quickly rose to the top of Britain's classical album chart. Classic FM named Jenkins the best-selling classical albums artist of the 21st century in 2020.
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What are some of Katherine Jenkins's most famous works or performances?
Katherine Jenkins is a Welsh mezzo-soprano known for her mainstream appeal and versatility in opera, hymns, Welsh folk music, show tunes, and pop songs. Classic FM recognized her as the best-selling classical albums artist of the 21st century in 2020.
Jenkins gained public attention in 2003 after performing at Westminster Cathedral. Her debut album, Premiere, released in 2004, topped Britainâs classical album chart, followed by Second Nature (2004), which also reached the pop chart. Second Nature and Living a Dream (2005) earned her Classical BRIT Awards. Living a Dream included an Italian version of Dolly Partonâs "I Will Always Love You". Other successful albums include Serenade (2006) and Rejoice (2007).
She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2014 for her contributions to music and charity.
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How has Katherine Jenkins contributed to classical and popular music?
Katherine Jenkins is a Welsh mezzo-soprano known for her versatility in both classical and popular music. Classic FM recognized her as the best-selling classical albums artist of the 21st century in 2020.
Jenkins gained prominence in 2003 after performing at Westminster Cathedral. Her debut album, Premiere, released in 2004, featured a mix of classical favorites and traditional Welsh songs, topping Britainâs classical album chart. Subsequent albums like Second Nature and Living a Dream also achieved success, blending classical material with pop songs like Dolly Partonâs "I Will Always Love You".
She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2014 for her contributions to music and charity.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Katherine Jenkins (born June 29, 1980, Neath, Glamorgan, Wales) is a Welsh mezzo-soprano with strong mainstream appeal. A highly versatile singer, Jenkins excels not only with opera and hymns but also with Welsh folk music, show tunes, and pop songs. In 2020, Classic FM, one of the United Kingdomâs Independent National Radio stations, named Katherine Jenkins as the best-selling classical albums artist of the 21st century.
Early life and education
Jenkins began studying piano and singing at age 7 in a local church choir. In the 1990s she was a member of both the Royal School of Church Music Cathedral Singers and the National Youth Choir of Wales. At age 17 she earned a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she performed in operas while studying foreign languages. After graduating with honors, she continued to perform in operas while also teaching voice and working as a fashion model.
Breakthrough
Jenkinsâs public profile grew in 2003 when she performed at Londonâs Westminster Cathedral at a celebration of Pope John Paul IIâs silver jubilee. That year she signed a recording contract, and her debut album, Premiere, was released in 2004. A mix of classical favorites and traditional Welsh songs, it went to number one on Britainâs classical album music chart. It was followed quickly by Second Nature (2004), which likewise topped the classical album chart and also reached the top 20 on Britainâs pop chart. That album and its successor, Living a Dream (2005), earned Jenkins two straight Classical BRIT (British Record Industry Trust) Awards for album of the year. Living a Dream features an Italian-language version of the Dolly Parton song âI Will Always Love Youâ alongside arias and other classical material. The albums Serenade (2006) and Rejoice (2007), like Living a Dream, were number one on Britainâs classical albums chart and also reached the top 5 on Britainâs pop chart.
Albums from the 2010s and 2020
Jenkins made her most pop-oriented album to date with Believe (2009), which features versions of songs by the likes of Bob Marley, Queen, and Sarah McLachlan. Her albums from the 2010s include Daydream (2011), Home Sweet Home (2014), and Celebration (2016). The last, released at the time of Queen Elizabeth IIâs 90th birthday, features a version of the British national anthem, âGod Save the Queen,â along with other patriotic songs. Jenkins finished the decade with Guiding Light (2018). The album includes âXanderâs Song,â a ballad dedicated to her second child, son Xander Levitas (born 2018), with husband Andrew Levitas (married 2014), an American film director and artist. Their first child was daughter Aaliyah Levitas (born 2015). Jenkinsâs next album was Cinema Paradiso (2020), a collection of memorable songs from such movies as Singinâ in the Rain (1952) and A Star Is Born (2018).
Screen appearances
In addition to making music, Jenkins took on a number of acting roles, including a part in the 2010 Dr. Who Christmas special and a role in the feature film Minamata (2020) alongside Johnny Depp and Bill Nighy. She made a number of television appearances as well, winning second place in the 14th season (2012) of Dancing with the Stars and competing on the first season (2020) of The Masked Singer UK.
Charities, recognition, and memoir
Jenkins has been recognized for her charitable efforts. In 2013 she ran the London Marathon to raise money for the Macmillan Cancer Support organization. She also made several trips to Iraq, Afghanistan, and other countries to perform for British troops. In 2014 Jenkins was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her contributions to music and charity. Her autobiography, Time to Say Hello, was published in 2008.