ONE of the most famous voices in the world is coming to York Minster this summer as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of a leading national charity.

The Welsh mezzo soprano singer, Katherine Jenkins will perform in the Minster in June on a bill which also includes 13-year old Britain’s Got Talent finalist, Faryl Smith.

The Golden Evening takes place on June 5 and is a fundraising event to mark half-a-century of work by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign (MDC).

Billed as ‘the ultimate in classical music’, the event will give £100 VIP ticket-holders the chance to meet the performers, who also include Alexei Kalveks and the award-winning female voice choir The Rodillian Singers, at a reception after the show.

Katherine Jenkins said: “It’s wonderful to be able to sing in this beautiful Minster and at the same time support the work of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign in their 50th anniversary year.

“I’m sure that the golden evening will provide a wonderful night’s entertainment and I hope it will help the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign with their vital work to continue to support all the children and adults living with muscle disease for a further 50 years.

Thirteen-year-old singing sensation Faryl Smith said: “I’m really looking forward to being part of such a special evening and am so pleased that I can use my talent to help such a worthy cause as the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.”

Richard Atkinson, whose three-year-old son Austin suffers from muscular dystrophy and whose wife is performing in the choir at the event, explained the challenges facing his family and the MDC.

He said: “For a number of months everyone just assumed Austin was lazy, “He takes after you” people would say. “Yet it was obvious something was wrong when he was unable to walk or crawl long after his peers had reached such milestones. “After a long process of consultation, a muscle biopsy and transportation of the sample between Leeds, Newcastle and London the diagnosis was complete and suddenly a whole new world was open to us as a family.

“It says a lot about muscular dystrophy as a condition and the battle faced by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign that we knew very little about it. It’s amazing how much knowledge is picked up during the consultation period and also post-diagnosis.”

Seat reservations for the performance are £25 and £35, with VIP reservations available for a donation of £100, which includes an invitation to the after-event reception and a chance to meet the performers. Details on 01924 253261 (10am – 6pm) or email g.atkinson@muscular-dystrophy.org