The Hour

A Scottish opera singer will perform in front of 40,000 people at the prestigious Proms in the Park event after winning a singing competition on national radio.

Shuna Scott Sendall, 34, beat off competition from over 600 applicants to win the BBC Radio 2 Kiri Prize, judged by opera superstar Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, and will now be given the chance to sing at London’s Hyde Park when the Proms commence on September 11.

Speaking to fellow singer Michelle MacManus on The Hour, Shuna recalled the moment she saw details about the competition that would shoot her to fame on a friends Twitter page.

She said: “The first time Id heard about the Kiri Prize was when a friend tweeted about it. I thought Id quite like to do that.

“I waited and waited, then sent away my applications, now here I am. It was a long process but the chance to sing in front of an orchestra and be broadcast is a prize in itself.”

Shuna began singing in the Scottish Opera Children’s Chorus at the age of 12 and has been passionate about it ever since. She can sing in 6 languages and has previously performed with the likes of Scottish Opera and Welsh National Opera.

However, the talented Glaswegian has never sang at an event anywhere near as big as her forthcoming gig at Hyde Park, and admits to being slightly nervous as the Proms draw closer.

She added: “There will be 40,000 there, easily the largest crowd I will ever have played in front of. Ill be the little scared Scottish lassie right at the back!”

“It’s a great chance to get people watching me, and pay me attention. It’s just so exciting.”

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