'I'll never forget singing with Aled Jones'

A 13-year-old girl who won a competition to perform a duet with Aled Jones says it was an experience she will never forget.

Lorretta, who lives near Warminster in Wiltshire, was one of two children chosen from more than 100 people to sing Walking in the Air, from the film The Snowman, with the singer at Marlborough College Memorial Hall.

The concert, which saw The Fulltone Orchestra play the continuous soundtrack of the film on Sunday, marked 40 years since the release of Jones' version of the falsetto track.

Lorretta said she was "so excited" to get the gig, adding: "I just thought, wow, this is an amazing experience and it's just something that only happens once."

The show came about after Jones, a supporter of the orchestra, mentioned the famous track's anniversary was approaching.

"We just said 'well, we've got to do something, haven't we?' And he said 'yes'," conductor Anthony Brown explained.

Singers submitted videos of themselves performing the song and Lorretta and Jack, a young boy from Liverpool, were chosen.

Mr Brown said both "stood out because they were confident singers".

Loretta said her friends and family who came to watch on Sunday were "all really proud" of her.

"And they were quite emotional when they watched as well, because obviously it's a big moment," added the teenager, who hopes to one day perform on the West End.

Jones said performing with the young singers was a "real highlight", calling them "lovely artists" with "great musical instinct".

"It was a pleasure to share the stage with them," the singer said.

Jones added he "loved" being part of a concert with "such a fantastic group of musicians".

Loretta said the singer was "so kind" and "so funny" during rehearsal.

"I was a bit nervous, but honestly, I thought I would have been a bit more nervous, but it was quite chill, because Aled was helping me backstage," she added.

Mr Brown agreed Jones was "a bit of a joker offstage".

"Sometimes you're not quite sure what you're going to get when a superstar lands in your town, but he couldn't have been nicer to everybody," Mr Brown added.

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