Deborah Chan
Elin Manahan Thomas is a Welsh soprano singer, specialising in Baroque music. She is also an advocate for music education and has led choral workshops, masterclasses, and children's concerts. In May 2018, she sang at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex. The song she chose for the occasion was Handel's Eternal Source of Light Divine, which was also performed at the Paralympics opening ceremony in 2012.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the singer | Elin Manahan Thomas |
| Song she sang at the wedding | Handel's Eternal Source of Light Divine |
| Wedding | Prince Harry and Meghan Markle |
| Date | 19 May 2018 |
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What You'll Learn
Elin Manahan Thomas is a Welsh soprano
In 2000, Thomas auditioned for Sir John Eliot Gardiner and joined the Monteverdi Choir, singing in many of the concerts of the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage. The following year, she moved to London to pursue postgraduate vocal studies at the Royal College of Music. Thomas is a specialist in Baroque music and has had a glittering career, performing at some of the world's most prestigious venues and festivals with leading orchestras and conductors. She has also released five solo albums.
In 2012, Thomas performed Handel's "Eternal Source of Light Divine" at the Paralympics opening ceremony in London. This song was later chosen for Meghan Markle to walk down the aisle to when she married Prince Harry in 2018, with Thomas once again performing the vocals. Thomas has described the experience of performing at the royal wedding as "sending shivers around St George's Chapel and beyond". She has not disclosed whether she was paid for the performance.
In addition to her performance at the royal wedding, Thomas has had several other notable career highlights. She has performed at two Doctor Who Proms, celebrating the show's fiftieth anniversary in 2013. In 2016, she was the soprano soloist in the première of Karl Jenkins' choral work, "Cantata Memoria: For the Children", at the Wales Millennium Centre. She also has several album releases to her name, including "Eternal Light" (2007), "A Christmas Festival" (2008), "Song of Songs" (2009), and "This is the Day" (2012).
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She sang Handel's 'Eternal Source of Light Divine'
Elin Manahan Thomas, a Welsh soprano, sang Handel's "Eternal Source of Light Divine" at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May 2018. She is a specialist in Baroque music and has performed at some of the world's most prestigious venues and festivals with leading orchestras and conductors.
Manahan Thomas's performance at the royal wedding was particularly notable as she heralded the arrival of the bride, Meghan Markle, sending shivers around St. George's Chapel and beyond. This was not her first brush with royalty, however, as she had previously been chosen to perform Handel's song at the Paralympics opening ceremony in 2012.
"Eternal Source of Light Divine" was a piece that held personal significance for Manahan Thomas. It was the flagship piece on her 2007 album "Eternal Light," recorded with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. This album marked her debut as a solo artist, showcasing her versatility and talent across classical and contemporary works.
The choice of "Eternal Source of Light Divine" for the royal wedding was reportedly made by the Duchess of Sussex herself, though the reason for this selection remains unknown. Manahan Thomas's performance, accompanied by the event's orchestra and with David Blackadder playing the trumpet obbligato, added a touch of grandeur and elegance to the occasion.
Beyond her performance at the royal wedding, Manahan Thomas has had a glittering career. She has released five solo albums and collaborated with renowned artists and orchestras. Her passion for music education has led her to become an ambassador for Sing Up, conducting choral workshops, masterclasses, and children's concerts to inspire the next generation of musicians.
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She heralded the arrival of the bride
Elin Manahan Thomas, a renowned Welsh soprano, heralded the arrival of the bride—Meghan Markle—as she walked down the aisle at her wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018. Manahan Thomas, a specialist in Baroque music, performed Handel's "Eternal Source of Light Divine," a piece that had previously been chosen for the Paralympics opening ceremony in 2012.
Manahan Thomas's performance at the royal wedding added another prestigious accomplishment to her already glittering career. She is known for her versatility as a soprano, equally adept at classical and contemporary works, and has performed at some of the world's most renowned venues and festivals. Her debut album, "Eternal Light," released in 2007, showcased her talent and led to numerous opportunities to collaborate with leading orchestras and conductors.
In addition to her musical achievements, Manahan Thomas is a passionate advocate for music education. She has led choral workshops, masterclasses, and children's concerts, and is an Honorary Fellow at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, as well as at the Universities of Swansea and Bangor. Her commitment to sharing her knowledge and inspiring the next generation of musicians is evident in her ambassadorship for Sing Up, a music education initiative.
The choice of "Eternal Source of Light Divine" for the royal wedding was particularly significant for Manahan Thomas, as it was the flagship piece on her album with Universal in 2007. The song's selection for such a momentous occasion not only highlighted the beauty of the piece but also showcased the artist's talent on a global stage, with millions of viewers tuning in to witness the historic event.
As Manahan Thomas herself has reflected, the experience of performing at the royal wedding was undoubtedly a highlight in a career filled with remarkable achievements. Her performance not only contributed to the magic of the occasion but also left a lasting impression, with her exquisite rendition of "Eternal Source of Light Divine" forever intertwined with the memory of Meghan Markle's entrance as a bride.
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She sang at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Elin Manahan Thomas, a Welsh soprano, sang at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May 2018. She is a specialist in Baroque music and has performed at many of the world's most prestigious venues and festivals, including the Edinburgh Festival, the Royal Albert Hall, and the Concertgebouw Amsterdam. She is also an advocate for music education and has led choral workshops, masterclasses, and children's concerts.
For the royal wedding, she chose to sing Handel's "Eternal Source of Light Divine," which was also the song she performed at the Paralympics opening ceremony in 2012. The song was the flagship piece on her album with Universal in 2007. Accompanied by the wedding orchestra and with David Blackadder playing the trumpet obbligato, her performance sent shivers around St George's Chapel and beyond.
Thomas was born in Gorseinon, near Swansea, Wales, and began singing in the Swansea Bach Choir as a teenager. She won a choral scholarship to Clare College, Cambridge, and later joined the Monteverdi Choir, singing in many of the concerts of the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage in 2000. She has since released several solo albums and performed with leading orchestras and conductors worldwide.
Her performance at the royal wedding drew even more attention to her impressive career, and she is undoubtedly one of the leading sopranos of her generation.
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She has released five solo albums
Elin Manahan Thomas sang Handel's "Eternal Source of Light Divine" at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May 2018. She has also released five solo albums. Her first solo album, "Eternal Light", was recorded with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and conducted by Harry Christophers. It was released in June 2007. Her second album, "A Christmas Festival", was recorded with the Cambridge Singers, Farnham Youth Choir, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and conducted by John Rutter. This album was released in 2008. The following year, she released her third album, "Song of Songs", composed by Patrick Hawes and featuring his choir Conventus and the English Chamber Orchestra.
In addition to her solo albums, Elin Manahan Thomas has also featured as a soloist on numerous discs, showcasing her versatility in repertoire ranging from Dowland to Handel to Elgar. She has performed at some of the world's most prestigious venues and festivals, including the Edinburgh, Canterbury, Three Choirs, and Llangollen festivals, as well as renowned concert halls such as Wigmore Hall and the Royal Albert Hall. She has also worked with leading orchestras such as the Halle, Britten Sinfonia, and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.
Elin Manahan Thomas is a renowned Welsh soprano and specialist in Baroque music. She began her musical journey as a teenager, singing in the Swansea Bach Choir. Her exceptional talent led her to join the Monteverdi Choir in 2000, and she later pursued postgraduate vocal studies at the Royal College of Music in London. Her performances have taken her across Europe, and she has become one of the leading sopranos of her generation, known for her exquisite interpretations of Baroque masterpieces.
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Frequently asked questions
Elin Manahan Thomas sang Handel’s 'Eternal Source of Light Divine' at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Elin Manahan Thomas is a Welsh soprano, specialising in Baroque music.
Elin Manahan Thomas was born in Gorseinon near Swansea, Wales.
Elin Manahan Thomas's debut album was 'Eternal Light', released in 2007.
Yes, Elin Manahan Thomas sang at the Paralympics opening ceremony in 2012 and has performed at many prestigious venues and festivals around the world.
