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Tenor Alexander Grove has been selected as one of the five finalists of the ±«Óãtv Radio 2 Kiri Prize – Radio 2's nationwide search with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa to find an opera star of the future. Alexander is from Congleton, Cheshire.

Alexander secured his place in the final with outstanding performances of Kuda, Kuda (Lensky's Aria) from Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin and Il Mio Tesoro from Mozart's Don Giovanni accompanied by the ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra in a semi final concert held at the ±«Óãtv's Television Centre in London.

His performance was judged by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, mezzo-soprano Anne Howells, renowned conductor Robin Stapleton and director John Cox and can be heard tonight – 6 August 2010 – in Radio 2's flagship live music programme Friday Night Is Music Night presented by Penny Smith between 8-10pm.

This is the second of five semi final concerts, each featuring three talented singers performing for a place in the final. These concerts are broadcast over five weeks on Radio 2 from 30th July to 27th August.

Alexander will join Cardiff based soprano Gwawr Edwards and three other singers (to be announced) to go through to the final, which can be heard on Radio 2 on Friday 3 September between 8-10pm. Gwawr performed at the first semi final concert broadcast on Friday 30 July.

The winner of the Radio 2 Kiri Prize will perform with Dame Kiri at ±«Óãtv Proms In The Park in London's Hyde Park on Saturday 11 September and be given the opportunity to attend a three-week residential course at the Solti Te Kanawa Accademia in Italy.

Alexander says: "The Radio 2 Kiri Prize has been a wonderful experience for me. Being able to perform in front of, and receive coaching and advice from such eminent artists as Dame Kiri, Anne Howells, Robin Stapleton and John Cox has been an honour and a privilege. But actually being able to perform with Dame Kiri would certainly be the highlight of my career."

Alexander trained as a chorister at St Paul's Cathedral in London and at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester. His operatic/operetta roles have included Alfredo (Die Fledermaus) and Don Ramiro (La Cenerentola) at opera houses including Scottish Opera and Malmö Opera.

The Radio 2 Kiri Prize is the highlight of Friday Night Is Music Night's summer season of programmes and further demonstrates Radio 2's commitment to supporting talent across a wide range of genres. It launched in January 2010 and following regional auditions, 40 singers were invited to attend masterclasses in London with Dame Kiri, Anne Howells and Robin Stapleton.

SH3