When Anne Wilkins developed a love of music at an early age little did she dream she would go on to build a successful singing career and achieve the distinction of winning the Lieder competition in last year’s Eisteddfod at Newport.
Anne, who has been visually impaired since birth, is still palpably thrilled with her success.
“I didn’t expect to win but I was thrilled when I did, over the moon really, I just couldn’t believe it,” she said.
Anne puts her interest in classical music down to her father, who enjoyed playing classical records at home. She says; “Dad was very interested in music, and he would be so proud if he was alive to see me building a singing career and winning an Eisteddfod competition.”
Although she liked listening to music as a child Anne didn’t start singing until she joined the alto section of the choir at the Royal National College for the blind as a young woman.
She explains; “It was family and friends who really encouraged me to take up singing lessons and from there I applied to the Welsh College of Music and Drama. Soon after being accepted there I started coaching with Jeanette Massocchi, who has been a real inspiration.”
Anne now has three singing diplomas and is an associate of the Royal College of Music. “It’s good to feel qualified. I take my singing very seriously and I want to get it right.”
Whilst singing came naturally to Anne, because of her blindness she has had to work hard at her stagecraft. “I have had to learn body language, expression and how to put a song spacross from a visual point of view. It’s as important to my performance as the singing.”
Aside from her singing Anne works at the South Wales Police Headquarters as an administration assistant in the Learning Development Services.
“I was quiet and shy as a child but my singing and my work have helped build my self-confidence.”
“My colleagues were delighted, and many of them didn’t know I could sing. The video of my performance has done the rounds and they are all impressed,” she said.
When she’s not practising her singing Anne likes to cook supper for friends, bake chocolate sponges and correspond with friends via email. Anne has a special software programme that reads the words on the screen for her. Anne will also be travelling to Canada later this year to stay with friends she met whilst visiting Scotland.
Anne, who has a bubbly personality and a warm smile is keen to impress on me that she considers herself as capable as the next person.
“Although I am visually impaired I live my life on a level with sighted people. My blindness doesn’t limit me in anyway. I don’t think I would live my life any differently if I was a sighted.”
Somehow, sitting in her comfortable front room chatting to this charming lady I found I believed her completely.