Young people from The Aloud Charity received an unforgettable post-Christmas surprise on Thursday, 9th January, as beloved music icon Ed Sheeran launched his new foundation with a whirlwind tour of Cardiff. The star visited Fitzalan High School, Eastmoors Youth Centre in Splott, and the city-centre youth project Grassroots, leaving a trail of inspiration and excitement in his wake.
Accompanied by his longtime songwriting partner and Aloud Ambassador, Wales-based Amy Wadge, Ed made a special guest appearance during Fitzalan High School’s assembly. The sight of the megastar drew cheers and applause from students, who then had the chance to ask him questions following Ed’s performance of two of his best-known songs, Thinking Out Loud and Shape of You.
The boys performed Try Again, a song written for Aloud by Amy Wadge. Aloud has previously worked with Fitzalan High School and Amy Wadge during a song-writing project in 2020.
One OBA participant shared their excitement: “Well we were just singing and then Ed Sheeran came in! It was a brilliant opportunity that Aloud has given us.” After the performance, Ed gave an inspirational speech about perseverance, motivating the students to never give up on their dreams. “Because of his success and his life and career it means even more to hear it from him!” Another, participant said, “It was amazing to meet one of my idols and share my music with him. This experience has inspired me to keep going.”
Speaking to Ed before the performance, Aloud staff said it was “fascinating” to hear about how his first musical experiences were in a choir, and how this helped shape his passion for singing and develop his interest in being a songwriter.
The visit marked the official launch of the Ed Sheeran Foundation, an initiative designed to support youth music education across the UK through grant-making, raising awareness, and fostering collaborations. Speaking about the foundation, Ed said: “Music has always been a powerful force in my life, and I want to ensure young people everywhere have the opportunity to learn, create, and grow through music. The Ed Sheeran Foundation is about breaking down barriers and opening doors to creativity.”
As part of the foundation’s first wave of grants, The Aloud Charity became one of four Cardiff-based organisations who received funding. Craig Yates, Creative Director at The Aloud Charity expressed his gratitude: “We are delighted to be supported by the Ed Sheeran Foundation, which will help us deliver free weekly Only Boys Aloud rehearsals in South Wales. It was incredibly exciting for members of the choir to perform for such an icon and musician of this calibre. Offering exciting and unique opportunities is part of our promise at Aloud, so an experience of this scale is really special for our members.”
Ed’s surprise visit and the foundation’s launch have already sparked excitement and momentum in the local youth music scene, offering young talents a brighter, more musical future.
To find out more about Only Boys Aloud, or for information on how to join the choir in 2025, please visit https://www.aloud.cymru/what-we-do/only-boys-aloud/.