Shan Cothi

Soprano Soloist Broadcaster

Place of Birth: Ffarmers, Llanwrda West Wales.

Shan attended the University Collage Wales at Aberystwyth, and turned professional after winning the prestigious Blue Riband Prize, at the 1995 Abergale, National Eisteddfod.

She won a BAFTA for her successful Chanel 4 Wales series (Shan Cothi) appearing and performing with such great stars as Bryn Terfel and Michael Ball. In 2005 Shan was nominated for a best newcomer BAFTA for her portrayal as Davina Roberts, in Con Passionate. As a soloist she performed in the Ivor Novello musical play Glamorous Nights at the Novello Theatre, London. She performed for the opening and closing of the International Festival of Music Theatre in Cardiff and also in San Francisco. In New York she performed at a concert to celebrate The Life of Dylan Thomas in New York. Among her many stage performances she played the role of Corletta in Andrew Lloyd Webbers Phantom of the Opera, in the West End, London.

Shan received much critical acclaim for her show Cothi & Cream, in which the group Only Men Aloud also starred. She often performs on the BBC Radio 2s Friday Night is music Night. Her beautiful dbut album with the Welsh National Chamber Orchestra, entitled Passione, has received much critical acclaim.

Sadly, since the death her husband the BBC Wales Producer, Hew Justin Smith with Pancreatic Cancer in 2007, Shan has helped to raise awareness & donations for the charity Amser Justin Time and recently did a 400 mile, sponsored horse ride for this charity.