Portal:Cumbria/Selected article/1

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Johnston performing on the Britain's Got Talent Live Tour

Andrew Johnston (born 23 September 1994) is a British singer who rose to fame when he appeared as a boy soprano on the second series of the British television talent show Britain's Got Talent in 2008. Although he did not win the series, he received a contract to record on the SyCo Music label owned by the Britain's Got Talent judge Simon Cowell. Johnston's debut album, One Voice, was released in September of the same year, and it reached number four on the British album charts. Although originally performing as a treble, Johnston's voice has since matured to tenor, and he is currently taking a year off to allow his voice to develop.

Before his success on Britain's Got Talent, Johnston was head chorister at Carlisle Cathedral. He had moved to Carlisle as an infant after his parents separated, and lived there in "poverty". Johnston was bullied at school because of his love of classical music. While some journalists have argued Britain's Got Talent producers took advantage of Johnston's background, others have hailed his story as inspirational. Johnston continues to live in Carlisle with his mother, and is now home tutored. He attends lessons at the Royal Northern College of Music. (more...)