The former school teacher from Neath who signed the biggest deal in classical recording history and became the fastest-selling female opera singer since Maria Callas. In 2004, at the age of 23, Katherine Jenkins signed the largest record deal in UK classical recording history, with an undisclosed seven-figure deal.
But it's hardly been an overnight success for this mezzo-soprano from Neath, South Wales. By the age of seven, Katherine's early interest in pop had given way to a love of classical music, and she began taking piano lessons and joined the local choir.
In the decade that followed she represented Wales three times in the Choirgirl Of The Year competition, twice won the BBC Radio 2 Welsh Choirgirl Of The Year contest, and won the BET Welsh Choirgirl Of The Year.
Between 1990 and 1996 Katherine was a member of the Royal School of Church Music Cathedral Singers, where she achieved the St Cecilia Award its highest accolade. She was also a member of the National Youth Choir of Wales for three years.
Katherine was awarded the Pelenna Valley Male Voice Choir Scholarship for the most promising young singer, and at the age of 17 won a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London. She graduated with honours.
In October 2003 she sang at a special mass honouring the Pope's silver jubilee at Westminster Cathedral. The same month she supported Aled Jones on tour, before performing at the Sydney Opera House as a special guest to Max Boyce.
Since then she has become the official mascot for the Wales rugby team. Before the 2003 Rugby World Cup she recorded the Welsh team's official song, a version of Bread Of Heaven backed by a 100-piece male voice choir. Prior to that, she'd sung the Welsh national anthem Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium before the Wales/England game in August.
Released in April 2004 and produced by James Morgan and Juliette Pochin, Katherine's classical chart-topping debut album Première is a mix of old standards including Ave Maria and The Lord Is My Shepherd, plus a smattering of traditional Welsh songs and new interpretations of classic tunes by Handel, Bach, Erik Satie and others.
In 2004 she performed at Westminster Cathedral, Sydney Opera House, Royal Albert Hall and Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. In October the same year, Katherine's second album, the aptly-titled Second Nature, was released, reaching number 16 in the UK pop charts.
2005 saw appearances at Live 8 in Berlin the G8 concert in Murrayfield, Scotland, and an opening appearance at Tsunami Relief Cardiff. The also became the new forces sweetheart, performing at the VE Day concert at Trafalgar Square, at which she was introduced by Dame Vera Lynn.
Katherine's third album, Living A Dream, was released in October 2005.
