A YOUNG musical superstar who is currently touring Europe to perform in front of thousands says that all he wants is to ‘bring joy to people through his singing’.
At only 11 years old, Penistone-based Theo Hills has appeared on the Voice Kids - where he was the youngest contestant at nine - earning a place on Team Will, has toured the country in a production of The Full Monty and is now joining some of the world’s best singers for the European leg of the latest take on Les Miserables.
Heading on stage in front of thousands, the Barnsley Youth Choir member gets to perform alongside the likes of Michael Ball, Alfie Boe and Bonnie Langford.
Yet this lifelong obsession only came about thanks to some innocuous holiday fun.
“He started singing really young while doing karaoke on holiday,” his mum, Lucy, told the Chronicle.
“Even then it was evident he could sing really well for someone of his age so he joined up at Barnsley Youth Choir.
“He went on to join with Angel’s Voice Choir too and then started private lessons
“He’s always sung - he just loves being on stage and performing for an audience.
“It could be a small crowd, it doesn’t have to be the thousands that he’s in front of now.
“In his words, he just likes to bring joy to people through his singing.”
Lucy says her musically gifted son has always had ‘an old head on his shoulders’, which guides his mature approach to music and practice.
“He really enjoys the process of auditioning, we don’t make it stressful,” she added.
“There could be thousands of kids applying, so we do the tape and write it off unless we hear something back.
“So for him he just enjoys going into the room and takes it as an opportunity to show off what makes him different.”
Even at his young age, Theo has planned out the next decade of his life as he works towards pursuing his dreams of a career as a singer.
“He’d say he wants to be the next Ed Sheeran.
“It’s not like his style of music is similar, but he wants to be just as big as him.
“In the end I think he wants to be a singer/songwriter - but he wants to keep doing musical theatre as well.
“So he’s already got plans for what to do at school and college up until he’s 18.”
To celebrate his ongoing successes, Theo has been nominated as Young Entertainer at this year’s Young Champions awards - which Lucy says he’ll love as he ‘enjoys anything to do with his performing’.
His tutor, Debbie Angel, said: “What sets Theo apart is not just his incredible talent, but his kindness and humility.
“He is always the first to offer support and encouragement to fellow singers, whether they need help with confidence or guidance on a song. “Despite singing on an arena stage in Gothenburg alongside A-list performers, Theo remains grounded and unchanged - simply a sweet, humble boy with an extraordinary gift.”
