Episode 2 Only Boys Aloud

Choral conductor Tim Rhys Evans has set himself a challenge.

He's created a top singing Academy for a bunch of teenagers,

hand-picked from his choir Only Boys Aloud.

A rigorous audition process has whittled down the hopefuls

to find Tim his 32.

"Congratulations".

LAUGHTER

In just six weeks,

Tim hopes to turn these rookie singers into a polished choir,

ready for a performance at this castle, to the paying public.

Everyone is expecting results.

Make sure that, if you've written something on your score, you do it.

And if you haven't written something down, why not?

Because it's the first one, it's the first Academy.

There are plenty of people that would love to see it fail.

And the first test for the Academy choir is a showcase at Eton College,

home to some of the UK's most accomplished young choristers.

Tim's ambitious repertoire has created a daunting workload for the boys.

It looks quite hard actually.

Oh, my gosh.

They're sung in Latin or German, or...did he say French or something as well?

They're facing long days of note learning and music theory lessons.

It's sink or swim for Tim and his Only Boys Aloud Academy.

It's day one and the eager boys arrive for their first rehearsal.

Weeks of planning and preparation are now behind Tim

and his team of music coaches.

It's here. It's Academy day preparation weekend number one.

What has been just a series of words on a piece of paper

in the long-term planning is here.

I'm nervous, I'm really nervous.

The boys are turning up. What are they going to be expecting?

Are they going to be expecting a really easy day?

Because they're not going to have it!

Are they expecting an exciting day,

as they probably won't have that either.

There's going to be a lot of sitting down, learning notes.

I've had a look at the repertoire.

More difficult than I was expecting.

Tim's going to challenge them a lot, which is the reason for the Academy.

It'll be hard for us to teach it, let alone for them to sing it, so it'll be a good day.

Spread out a bit, boys. That's it. That's fine. We've got a lot to do

in a very short space of time.

You'll get your music in a minute,

so you'll see our repertoire.

We're singing in four different languages - Latin, Welsh,

in German and in English.

There's a lot to do and I'm thinking, "Why do I do this to myself?".

Why do I put myself in this public arena of failure?

I'm sure it will be fine, but ask me at the end of the day,

when I've got a drink in my hand!

Unaware of the pressure,

some of the boys are still on a high after getting into the Academy.

I told you, I told you, didn't I?

For 17-year-old Ben Bateman,

his acceptance is a life changing moment, and for his family.

Stop crying now, man!

My parents are crying, so they must have been happy.

They really need a reason to cry as they don't cry much.

I think they're proud, which is good - I want to make them proud.

I would never in a million years have thought one of my children

would ever be in a choir.

I think the Academy is going to push Ben further

than I think he thinks he can go.

You know, and it can only be for the better.

I've been waiting for this day since the audition.

I'm very proud of him. Very emotional.

Singing and, you know, making people happy, is something he wants to do.

I'm glad that he's got through now.

The acceptance letter has brought immense relief for 16-year-old Niall Hunt from Cwmbran.

When I was opening the letter, I didn't know what it was going to be.

I didn't want to look at what it said first -

I wanted to read it all,

and then I saw in capitals, "congratulations",

and I thought, "Woo, I've done it!".

Forget about GCSEs, I just want to go and do it now.

Niall was one of the youngest people

that auditioned, so I did wonder if he would actually get through.

He thought it had gone well but I did think...

I said to people that it was 50-50 - it could go either way,

but everyone's going to be delighted and we're over the moon about it.

I think to celebrate I'll have a nice cup of tea and a biscuit.

I had a letter to say that I was successful getting into the Academy.

It was great, and it was a relief as well that I was involved.

It was a good feeling to get into something which could be promising.

And for Tom Hier from Merthyr Tydfil,

a place in the Academy is a huge boost as he weighs up his options for the future.

I think it's a bit of a dream, but if the Academy goes really far

then it could be a kind of way out

from the Biologies and the Maths, yeah.

But the boys' enthusiasm comes to a halt with the first

shock of the day - a file bursting with difficult repertoire -

and it's not going down well.

It looks quite hard, actually. Oh, my gosh.

I just looked at the music now

and it looks very hard, actually. We've never sung in Latin or

German or... Did he say French or something else as well?

Well, when we got the pack,

we got all the music out and there was just sheets after sheets and

sheets of music, and I was like, "Oh..." It was so daunting.

With the Latin one, I thought it was called Agyness Deyn,

after the model. Obviously it wasn't but that's how I thought

it said. It was called Agnus Dei or something like that.

I thought it was called Agyness Deyn. I'm so silly.

Salve Regina. Just say that for me.

ALL: Salve Regina.

SINGING

It's straight in at the deep end for the boys as they start

rehearsing a 15th century chant.

-I'm actually quite nervous about the Academy.

-I'm nervous now.

I'm really happy we're doing Rent, though.

Yeah, at least that's in English.

Oh, God. I'm not even good at English, let alone different

languages. It should be hopefully easy to remember,

and if they're repetitive maybe, then hopefully they're

easy to learn.

In a matter of weeks they must gel as a choir fit to impress

Eton's choristers.

But Tim is gambling on a repertoire that may prove to be

too stuffy for a group of teenage lads.

There'll be things that they love, there'll be things that are,

"Oh, God do we have to do that again?"

But it's like eating prunes or whatever, isn't it?

We know that it's good for us but we might not want to do it.

Tim decides to split the boys into sections based on vocal ranges.

The academy coaches or team captains - come from Tim's

professional male voice choir, Only Men Aloud. But it's the first time

they've seen the repertoire, too, and the boss has shown up

to observe.

SINGING

Sorry, that's entirely my fault.

With basses left to learn the notes,

will the second tenors show a little more confidence with their

run-through of a traditional Welsh folk song?

SINGING

But the boys are struggling with the basics.

It's also a steep learning curve for first tenor coach David,

having to draw on some rudimentary piano playing skills.

Well, these weekends, it's a learning process for everyone,

including all the team captains. We're having to learn how to teach

these young lads the music so quickly, you know.

None of the team captains are trained pianists,

and I don't want them to be,

but what they can show in their vocal technique...

David's got the most beautiful voice

and he's a very capable musician, just not a pianist.

We're used to having time on our side

but trying to encourage the boys that there is

light at the end of the tunnel, we'll get through it.

I don't think they can all see it yet,

but give it a few weeks and they'll realise

just what all the hard work can do when it pays off.

It's actually started. I'm listening to sectional rehearsals

going on, and what I'm more thrilled about than anything else is

they're already making a fantastic sound.

# Down by the Sally Gardens

# My love and I did meet... #

I've noticed already the difference between the ability

of the boys in the Academy, because there are some people like me

who can't read music. Tim Rhys-Evans will say,

"Oh, can you draw some sort of musical symbol?"

And I'm having to look at everyone else because I don't know

what he's on about.

There was one time he told us to do something, so I didn't want to look

like I didn't know what I was doing so I just drew a squiggle

somewhere on the music.

I thought, "Oh, no, nobody'll know that I don't know

"what he's on about."

SINGING

-Sounds brilliant.

-Very good teacher.

THEY LAUGH

After a draining day of rehearsals, the boys head off with

a heavy bag full of homework.

First preparatory weekend is over. This is down to them now.

If they don't know it, they have to make sure that they do,

because, by the time they come back on the next weekend,

I'm expecting not to be doing the same work again.

With the boys left to break the back of their repertoire before their

Eton performance, Tim goes off-duty for a royal rendezvous in London -

an invitation from the Queen for his outstanding dedication to youth

choirs in the South Wales Valleys.

I'm really excited, to be honest.

You know, going to Buckingham Palace, it's a nice thing

to be doing. This is the first time that I'll have met the Queen and Prince Philip,

and I just wish I had some of the boys here to experience it as well.

I wore these in one of the rounds of Last Choir Standing

but I thought they were appropriate.

They're old and bobbly but they have got crowns on them.

I thought, "If she's got one on her head, I'll wear one somewhere else."

OK, lets go to the Palace.

Oh, what am I going to say to the Queen?

I don't know. I guess she'll ask me a question, you know.

"What the hell are you doing in my house?" maybe.

Back in Neath, Ben is working hard on the repertoire.

Although the Academy has brought hope for the family,

it's also important for Ben to have his family around him,

especially at the final Academy concert.

I have a really good relationship with my dad.

We also have a laugh. He can't do as much as he used to.

He's had a stroke so he can't go many places on his own,

so he needs someone with him. He doesn't like to go out.

He stays in the house where it's quiet.

One thing he wants to do is come and watch the Academy concert.

If he can, I think he'll really enjoy it.

And maybe that'll help him go outside more instead of staying in the house.

It would make his day if he knew his father was there watching him.

What it is... I think if you know your parents are there,

you tend to sing stronger, you know, give it your all, don't you?

Ben's like that. But to Ben it's important that his father be there.

I think if he was there it'd be special because it'd just make me

want to do better than I already am doing.

So he enjoys it and hopefully he'll be proud of what I do.

Although expectations are high for the Academy,

there's a different mood in the office.

Tim's gruelling workload has left the coaches taking care of all

the preparations for Eton and the final academy boot camp.

But with many of the decisions needing his stamp of approval,

finalising details is a little frustrating.

'Tim hasn't been around for the last week or so.'

He's the guy that signs everything off, so when he's not here

we can't accomplish what we want to. So it's been a bit stressful, the last week,

'and I think we're really realising now that possibly

'we may have bitten off a little more than we can chew.'

-Costume is booked.

-Yeah, that's on the way.

There's a lot to do.

'I don't want to sound like a whinger, but it is very difficult to juggle all the balls

'and it is very difficult to make sure that you're giving everything the attention that it needs.'

Actually, the hardest thing to do, I believe,

is realise that you can't do everything.

Being the controlling person that I am, I find that really hard.

NIALL SINGING

Oh no, that sounds AWFUL!

There's probably people that know this off by heart

and I've probably offended them all.

I've ruined their favourite song, or something! Oh no.

Niall has been struggling with the workload that this brand new choir demands.

'The work is much more serious than I thought it was going to be,

'but I'm sure we'll be able to do it,

'but it does seem very daunting at the moment.'

"The blessed fruit of thy womb Jesus

"and after this our exile show unto us."

Well, it's not Lady Gaga, I can tell you that!

But for some, the repertoire isn't the problem.

The glittering prospects that could be offered by the Academy

now mean that Tom is doing some serious soul searching.

'When I had to pick the A-level subjects

'there was a massive battle going on,'

whether I should go down the academic route of doing medicine and stuff,

which I want to do to get a job and all that stuff,

'or do the subjects that I enjoy.

'So, I decided, obviously, to do the academic route, which I now regret.'

'Maybe because I haven't taken music or drama'

the possibility of going to do musical theatre may not be possible.

After a week of tense note bashing at home,

the boys get back together again for the second major rehearsal.

Everyone's enthusiastic,

but the big question is...have they been doing their homework?

'We've come to the last rehearsal day.

'It's also the last rehearsal before we go to Eton.

'The last time that they'll get together and rehearse

'before they perform in the surroundings of Eton and to those boys.'

I think we as leaders,

as team captains have really got our work cut out.

'I think with the Academy, which is different to Only Boys Aloud,

'we've had to raise the bar so we expect a lot more from the boys.

'It'll be interesting to see how much they've done on their own.'

If they've learnt the words, been practising their own music, their parts.

I don't know what Tim will be like if they haven't done that work. It's going to be interesting to see.

# Dum-dum dum-dum... #

'The boys are going to Eton on Friday'

and for that I need them to be absolutely spot on.

'I need them to have done their homework.

'I don't want to be making excuses.'

Gareth Evans, your trousers might crease,

but just try and dance a little bit more, OK?

'So, yeah, I'm feeling pressure.'

It's part of my job is to absorb that pressure partly,

'but at the same time it's important that they now step up to the plate.'

(Ready? One, two, three...)

BOYS SING

'From now on it's about specifics.

'It's really important in a rehearsal to give off an energy,

'even if you're feeling knackered,'

you've got to look and engage with that rehearsal process.

So, yeah, not much really!

Just as long as they're fantastic singers, great musicians,

loads of energy and with 150% commitment, that's all I'm asking!

HE LAUGHS

All of the repertoire must be covered by the end of the day.

One piece is a difficult unaccompanied chorus in Latin, by Mendelssohn.

So, Beati Mortui, please.

I really hope you've been doing your work because we've got no time.

As Tim takes the first full rehearsal of the day,

he must gauge if this new choir is responding to the demands.

OK. # Once again please. #

THEY SING

OK.

Let me tell you what I just heard.

HE SINGS LAZILY

If a snail could sing it would sound like that.

# Beati... #

That tee is not together.

# Beati... #

No. Tees were wrong.

One of the worst things we can do when singing is sing too quietly

because we end up sounding like a weed.

# Dici... #

No, no, no. Somebody's singing C, C, F, but we've gone flat.

SINGS: Second tenors. Where were you? I didn't get that D.

# Dicit Enim. # We should all be in unison there.

If we all concentrate, if we all give it our 110%,

I don't have to keep repeating myself.

Two, three...

# Beati Mortui

# In Domino morientes... #

OK. I'm not going to turn into a screaming harpy

because you have been coping with GCSEs and A levels and everything,

but those four bars there are not confident.

I need you to really put this work in, learn these notes,

cos otherwise these rehearsals

instead of being exciting music making sessions

they're going to be boring...me banging notes out on a piano

and I'm going to get impatient and angry.

So, just do some homework.

We just all need to make sure that if you've written something on your score you do it

and If you haven't written something on your score, why not?

Right, OK, guys.

The pressure's on.

Next stop, the elite world of Eton.

'I don't know of anyone who's not out of their comfort zone at Eton.

'It's very few people that actually see in that inner world

'and it's very important'

that they're supported and kind of protected as well.

I do feel very protective towards all of them, you know,

cos I don't want to expose them to something which they're not ready for.

I think everybody's got this idea in their head,

like of the, kind of, stereotype upper class thing.

I don't think they'll be like that.

They'll just be normal, you know, "Hi, nice to meet you".

They won't be like, "Oh, God, get the poor people away from me" and things like that.

Apparently King Henry VIII situated the school, or opened the school,

and people like Lord Byron and some members of the Royal family

have studied there, apparently.

Yeah, so, probably not going to be as normal as us then.

When I go there I want them all

to be as if they've just come out of an Enid Blyton book

and then they're all like, "Oh, spiffing, tally-ho!", and like that,

but I don't think they will be, but I'M going to be like that when I get there!

I'm going to see how many "spiffings" I can get in!

Eton College.

The boys arrive and bask in the glory of this regal establishment.

We're here!

They've arranged to meet some of the boarding pupils

on a guided tour of the college.

-I'm Niall.

-I'm Richard.

Hello Richard, what have you been doing today?

You know what we're like in Wales.

We're terribly suspicious of the English

and anyone that speaks with a posh accent

is often perceived as the enemy and actually that's utter rubbish.

'So, I want the boys to just experience it.

'To be in that college,

'which is a sort of closed shuttered world from most people on this planet,

'where future kings have been educated.

'To be in the chapel and sing where centuries and centuries of great choral music has been made.

'It's a huge privilege for us to be able to go there.

'I want the boys to hang out with the lads from Eton and just...'

just realise that they're just normal boys too.

They just come from a different walk of life.

Niall and a couple of his friends

take their chance to grill James about Eton life.

'Everyone at Eton boards,'

there's no day pupils whatsoever, no matter if you live down the road,

as Prince William and Prince Harry did, they all boarded here.

Or if you live, like me, all the way back in Blackpool

or even in another country, everybody boards.

So when we came, what were you expecting?

I was expecting much younger boys

with some REALLY strong Welsh accents!

You know, the traditional stereotype.

There is some.

Yeah, I've come across one boy who has a very very strong Welsh accent,

-but I think it's fantastic.

-Can you understand him?

-Just about!

-THEY LAUGH

Next, Tim leads a musical warm-up and it's probably safe to say

the Eton boys have never heard anything like it.

Please can you take a whisk in your hand, please, an imaginary whisk.

So, on that top note we'll do... HE SINGS A SCALE

THE BOYS SING A SCALE

But try not to bash the living daylights out of it,

it's a gentle omelette, or something.

'Tim's warm up exercise was, er, very very much different

'than what we usually do.'

I've never had to whisk anything before,

but that was a really good experience

and it's definitely one I'll be taking away.

'It definitely did get me ready for singing.'

The Eton choristers perform their controlled and perfected repertoire.

# When a silver moon

# Is shining high

# Above the trees

THEY APPLAUD

Time for the Academy boys to showcase their talents

with a performance of Welsh favourite Gwahoddiad.

# Mi glywaf dyner lais

# Yn galw arnaf fi

# I ddod a golchi meiau gyd

# Yn afon Calfari

# Arglwydd dyma fi

# Ar dy alwad di

# Canna f'enaid yn y gwaed a gaed ar Galfari

# Amen

# Amen

# Amen. #

THEY APPLAUD

'I think the most common thing between ourselves'

and the boys was just the general love of music

and a general sort of willingness and yearning to learn

and just to sing, which is really great.

It's clear the boys have made some new friendships.

And then I'm Niall Hunt.

-See I knew, I knew...

-There had to be some kind of quirk about my name.

They're taking home some lasting memories, e-mail addresses and sheer exhaustion,

but morale is good as the boys head back to Wales on a high.

Fantastic experience, probably once in a lifetime opportunity.

I thought they were going to be really...

really posh and snobby, but they weren't at all.

They were really nice.

Hello Only Boys Aloud, well, what a day it's been!

We've been to Eton and it's been great,

and they loved us, didn't they?

The Academy's musical boot camp has arrived.

The boys will live here for the next 7 days as they prepare for the final concert,

but as they arrive, they're getting worried about what Tim's got in store.

'I've got about five pairs of shoes, ten pairs of trousers.'

Well, I didn't really know what we needed to bring.

I don't know what activities we're going to be doing this week.

Trousers, joggers, swimming trunks.

'Today everyone's quite hyper cos this is the first time we got here.'

So, I think, yeah, we might be a bit loud and frantic.

I've got my hairdryer, got to have my hairdryer, and my straighteners,

but the only problem is there's one plug in the room.

Can't be doing with that.

I think Tim will be quite strict,

but, no, I haven't got a clue about the schedule,

but I think he's going to keep us busy,

but it's going to be fun at the same time.

The boys are taken on a guided tour

of this sixth form private school near the sea.

It feels like a million miles away from home.

-So...it's just so lovely here.

-It's very Hogwarty.

'My first impressions of this castle and these grounds are just amazing.'

I live in the valleys so it's, you don't see things like this at all.

'It's hard to believe that we're still in Wales to be honest.'

You feels as if you're in Spain, don't you, though?

Some kind of English University, or something.

I'm not sure I think they're keeping a lot of things quiet.

We don't know, really, anything that's happening this week, so that's quite exciting.

On the e-mail I read that people will be coming to speak to us.

Maybe some celebrities or something,

maybe Tom Jones, maybe Shirley Bassey.

They said that we're having master classes, as well, by celebrities.

So, I'm hoping they'll be somebody very famous, yeah.

But there'll be no star-studded event today

as Tim reveals his first Academy challenge.

Erm, we have a test for you.

Tim's arranged for the boys to sit a musicianship exam.

This will test the boys' knowledge of music theory

and will give Tim an idea of how much work is needed

before the final concert at the end of the week.

Don't turn your papers over!

'WHISPERS: I am officially the meanest man on the planet!

'Bring them to a glorious location, give them a tour,'

let them see a swimming pool, the sea, you know?

Loads of big open spaces they can run around and play football in, tennis courts,

then take them into the room where they're going to perform in and make them do an exam!

TIM LAUGHS

'I am evil.

'The boys know nothing about this week's schedule.

'It's why I really hope that they're feeling,

'"Wow, we are so lucky to be here".

'Whether they're ready to be working what is nearly 13 hours a day,'

I don't know, but it's a tough world this music business.

Next time...

Tim's evil ways continue...

..a relentless schedule pushes the boys to the limit...

Connie Fisher!

..a visit from West End and opera stars

give some the experience of a lifetime

and others a day they'd rather forget...

It was great,

but you may as well be singing the shopping list from Sainsbury.

..and tensions run high as the boys struggle towards their final performance.

Why, why, why aren't you watching me?!

Come on, boys!

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