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SINGAPORE: The phrase "classical music" immediately brings to mind Vivaldi, Beethoven and perhaps even opera music. It has this stodgy elitist image that makes the genre much less popular than say rock or pop music.
But this image is set to change after classically-trained songbird Katherine Jenkins began to wow audiences with her blend of classical and pop music.
"That's something that I want to do with my music, to show people that classical music is for everyone," Jenkins said. "When you think about it, it was the pop music of its day."
The 29-year-old singer looks set to succeed in taking classical music mainstream. She has sold more than three million albums in the UK alone, with her fifth album "Rejoice" outselling even pop acts like the Spice Girls and Girls Aloud.
Jenkins signed a 5.8 million pound (S$13.1 million), five-album record deal with Warner Music last year, collaborated with opera legend Placido Domingo and even sang for the Queen of England - three times.
"I feel so incredibly lucky that I get to travel the world to sing with people I admire"" she said.
This lass from the quiet Welsh town of Neath could never have imagined things would turn out this way when she started learning to sing at her local church as a child.
She went on to become a freelance model and singing coach before finally focusing on her singing and releasing her first album "Premiere" in 2004.
After that, so many people kept asking her about how she entered the music business and her early years that she even wrote a biography to answer their questions. Aptly titled "Time to say hello", it was released last year.
However, those looking for juicy tidbits about her personal life will have to look elsewhere.
"I actually don't talk about my personal life. That's all secret for me. I make sure that I keep it all about the music," she said.
- CNA/ha
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