Celyn Cartwright and Oliver John to record new work with The West End of Wales Orchestra

Welsh Musical Theatre Singer Celyn Cartwright and rising welsh theatre talent Oliver John are going to record a brand new piece of music written by Welsh composer Lisa Shelmerdine Richards with The West of Wales Orchestra. “Win this Fight Alone” is an original track composed especially for The West End of Wales to record and will be released on February 14th.

The West End of Wales Orchestra [WeoW] is a community interest company set up online by Laura Llewellyn Jones and Iestyn Griffiths who both originate from Pembrokeshire. The Orchestra was created due to the devastating and immediate impact the Covid-19 pandemic enforced on the lives of musicians and artists across the globe.

“On March 16th 2020, musicians were made redundant overnight and all of our diaries were instantly cleared of any forthcoming gigs and work. WeoW was initially formed as a way of alleviating some of the mental health issues associated with having your lifelong passion taken away from you. I wanted to create a performance platform which would allow players to continue to perform at the very highest level and to keep entertaining the public at a time when people needed Music in their lives more than ever before” Laura Llewellyn Jones [Co-founder of WeoW]

The company has since diversified and has worked with various charities, educational institutions and arts establishments across the UK. High profile collaborations with artists such as The Welsh of the West End Singers has resulted in WeoW establishing a comprehensive online following.

Haverfordwest High’s Expressive Arts Teacher and local composer, Lisa Shelmerdine Richards is working with WeoW on their latest project. It has been funded by Valero Refinery Ltd.

“The WeoW’s mission is to support all musicians throughout Wales and this project has a truly all-encompassing feel to it. Our Welsh Orchestra will record and produce a new piece of music, composed by a Welsh composer and sang by the exceedingly talented Welsh singers, Celyn and Oliver. We are so grateful for the financial support from Valero which has allowed all of our musicians to be paid for this project” Said Laura.

“Win this Fight Alone” will be released on February 14th and will feature on all of The WeoW’s social media platforms and be released as a single via Distrokid to be available on all major streaming platforms such as iTunes and Spotify.