One minute, Faryl Smith was a 13 year old schoolgirl with a talent, the next she was being told on national TV You are literally one in a millionĀ, as she sang her way to the final of ITV's Britain's Got Talent in 2008. It was an endorsement worth its weight in platinum as the young mezzo-soprano signed the largest record deal ever awarded to a schoolgirl.
Despite her youth, Faryl had already been through several tests of her nerve and ability before Britain's Got Talent.
Aged 10, she won thirteen awards at the Eisteddfod in her home town of Kettering, Northamptonshire, then took first prize in the 10-15 age group at the Llangolien International Musical Eisteddfod. In 2007 she reached the final of the Festival 4 Stars in Glasgow.
2008 was most certainly a year to remember for Faryl but in 2009 she was breaking records with the release of her debut album, performing to crowds of over 80,000 and signing a second multi-million pound deal whic would take her incredible talent to the USA.
Faryl's album became the fastest-selling classical debut album in chart history, surpassing the debut releases of Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, Charlotte Church, Hayley Westenra and Katherine Jenkins. Faryl was also the only classical star to go gold with a debut album within the first week of release.
In 2009 Faryl sang with the greats, including the legendary Jose Carreras, at the Hampton Court Festival. She shared a stage with Placido Domingo at the 2009 Classical Brit Awards and sang at the 2009 FA Cup Final in front of around 400 million television viewers worldwide.
To round off 2009, Faryl performed at the Festival of Remembrance in front of the Queen and millions of TV viewers. This was followed by appearing at the Royal Variety Show in Blackpool.
In 2010 Faryl was nominated for her first Classical Brit Award in both Best Album and Young Performer. She also went on to perform for the second year running at the FA Cup Final singing the National Anthem and Abide With Me in front of an estimated 450 million viewers.
Faryl was invited to the Royal Academy of Music by Gareth Malone to help inspire younger people to learn more about classical music, in a programme for BBC 2.
In 2012, Faryl sang in front of HRH Prince Edward the Earl of Wessex at Windsor Castle. In February 2013, Faryl was asked by Lady Elsie Robson to sing at the Sir Bobby Robson Memorial event where she perfomed a duet with Russell Watson.