Opera singer Rhys Meirion will celebrate a notable birthday doing what he enjoys best - singing in front of an appreciative audience.
But other than his dad, Gwilym, there will be no other members of his family around to celebrate his 50th birthday on Wednesday, February 24.
Rhys jetted off to Australia earlier this week to prepare for the series of concerts in Melbourne to celebrate St David's Day with Welsh expats Down Under.
It's the first tour of what is already proving to be a busy year for the Ruthin-based tenor. After returning from Australia he will head off to Ottawa and Washington with his friends Aled Hall and Aled Davies who make up the Three Welsh Tenors. Rhys will also visit Switzerland and Belgium in early May.
Taking a break from preparations Rhys told the Daily Post: "I'm not a person who likes to make two many plans for the future and create a timeline for my life.
“I have ambition and lifetime dreams but I tend to live in the present and see where that takes me.
“My worklife is split into three at the moment - singing, television work and charity - and I hope to continue with all three.
"With the singing I'm looking forward to see where it will take me as it matures and reaches its full potential.
“If I look after myself there should be another 20 years of singing ahead of me. I feel as if I know my voice pretty well by now and I know what I can do, and more importantly perhaps, what I can’t do.
“I’ve not being doing any opera recently but I haven’t completely closed the door on that.
"When the children have flown the nest perhaps there will be more opportunity to be away from home more which is such a big part of being an opera singer.
"As a father of course I enjoy seeing my children, my son Osian and daughters Elan and Erin develop. They have their own hopes and dreams and I will do everything in my power to support them in whatever direction they choose to follow.
"I'll never forget reading Jose Carreras’ autobiography where he admitted when his son reached his 16th birthday he had no memories of any time with him and he did not know him at all.
“That would be a nightmare for me and no amount of international fame or material wealth would come close to having the experience of sharing my children’s success, to wipe away their tears and to hug them tightly.
“There are so many roles I would like to get my teeth into if the opportunity arose. So I always say 'never say never again'," he said.
Rhys has been a popular presenter of S4C series Dechrau Canu, Dechrau Canmol over the years and next autumn will host his own show Deuawdau Rhys Meirion (Rhys Meirion’s Duets) and has other ideas for other programmes in the next few years.
“It’s an exciting time to be in the world of television at the moment with the digital age and multi-media broadcasting developing quickly,” he said.
Rhys is also busy planning events and challenges to raise the profile of Cronfa Elen (Elen's Fund), the fund set up in memory of his siter Elen who tragically died in 2012 after an accident at home.
After her death her family agreed to the donation of several organs and Rhys has worked tirelessly ever since raising both funds in aid of organ donation and awareness of discussing with loved ones whether or not the life saving gift should be made in the event of a tragedy.
"Perhaps I'll be going to a very, very cold place at the top of the world in 2017 to do some singing. All I can say is watch this space!" said Rhys.
Rhys was not always a professional singer. It was nearly 20 years ago that he swapped the classroom for life on the big stage.
Coming up to his 30th birthday Rhys was a talented amateur singer and successful and headteacher. He had thoughts of a professional singing career but was torn between his dream and his family commitments.
Rhys and his wife Nia discussed the options and decided if he didn't win the Blue Riband at the 1996 National Eisteddfod at Llandeilo he would concentrate on teaching.
"Well I did win, and that led me to apply for a course in opera singing at the Guildhall in London.”
But the soul searching went on and Rhys continued to seek assurances that giving up a secure job as head of Ysgol Pentrecelyn would not leave the family destitute. He arranged to sing for Carlo Rizzi, director of the Welsh National Opera in Cardiff.
Impressed by Rhys's raw talent, Rizzi was asked directly: “Should I consider pursuing a professional singing career?”
“It would be a sin if you didn’t,” he said.
During a lengthy interview process at the Guildhall, Rhys continued to seek assurances.
He told the interviewers: "I really want to make a go of this, but if you have any concerns or doubts that I would not have a good chance of making a living as a singer, please do not accept me on the course."
Several weeks later Rhys received a letter from the Guildhall offering him a place on the two-year course starting in September 1997.
He was able to raise more than £12,000 in scholarships from S4C, the Ryan Davies Memorial Fund and by winning the W Towyn Roberts Scholarship at the National Eisteddfod that summer.
And his education career ended on a high too. Inspectors decided to visit the school in July to carry out a full inspection of its policies and educational provision. Despite weeks of worry Rhys and the staff were handed a glowing report.
