THIS Sunday will be the first anniversary of York soprano Rebecca Newman making music history by becoming the first unsigned soprano to reach number one in the official UK classical album chart.

To mark the occasion, the People's Soprano is launching a hunt for an undiscovered tenor to join her on stage for her Homecoming Concerts on November 8 at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre.

Rebecca, who began her career as an operatic busker on York's streets, has enjoyed a phenomenal year since a grassroots movement of music lovers from across Britain bought her album Dare to Dream in her first attempt to enter the charts.

Since then she has toured with Russell Watson, sung with Alfie Boe and appeared on national television and radio, including Weekend Wogan on BBC Radio 2, BBC1's Songs Of Praise and BBC Breakfast. This summer, she fulfilled a long-held ambition when she headlined the Castle Howard Proms as the star soprano in their 25th anniversary concert.

As an independent musician, Rebecca is blazing a trail for like-minded artists, who have drawn inspiration from her success."I regularly impart advice to other artists and I've mentored a couple of up-and-coming sopranos," she says. "In the spirit of 'paying it forward', I'm now on the lookout to give a leg-up to two talented young tenors in the region.

"I'm doing two concerts, a matinee and an evening show, at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre as a celebration of all the amazing things that have happened in the past year. I have two incredible guest acts, classical-crossover trio Tre Amici, who won the Hull Daily Mail's Star Search 2015, and York community choir Cantar, but I would like to find a tenor for each of the shows to help me with a duet."

The explosion of TV talent shows has resulted in fewer and fewer opportunities for people who do not – or are not able to – go down that route, suggests Rebecca. "I want to do my bit to help new talent. Who knows, maybe there will be more opportunities in the future," she says.

York Press:

Tre Amici

Tenors keen to enter Rebecca's competition should visit her website, rebeccanewman.co.uk, to send a message via the contact page for full information. The closing date for entries is October 8 and the two winners will be announced around October 20.

"A shortlist of finalists will have videos of their performances posted on my social media pages for people to vote for their favourites, so even if they don't win, they stand to gain lots of new fans."

Rebecca is at present touring with veteran Welsh entertainer Max Boyce before a couple of shows with G4, the classical-pop group from the first season of The X Factor.

Her 2.30pm and 7.30pm Homecoming Concerts will feature the strings players from London Studio Players, who performed with Rebecca at the BBC Radio 2 studios in July on Weekend Wogan, under the musical direction of Malcolm Maddock on piano. Expect highlights from Rebecca's Dare To Dream album plus a few old favourites from the worlds of opera, musicals and pop.

"As the concerts are taking place on Remembrance Sunday, there'll be a couple of pieces dedicated to our forces, including an ensemble performance of the stunning song Bring Him Home," says Rebecca.

Tickets are on sale at the York Theatre Royal box office, 01904 623568, or in person from the event sponsors, Rowley and Sons Family Funeral Services in Lawrence Street. The prices are £20, concessions £18, with £2 off all tickets bought before September 30.

Meanwhile, work is underway on a Christmas song project that Rebecca is putting together to raise awareness of Socks and Chocs, the Birmingham charity for the homeless, for which she is the patron.