Many people ask me what it’s like to sing at Wembley Stadium and how I prepare myself to perform to 90,000 football fans and a  tv audience of a couple of million and I often have asked myself the same question - Ha Ha!
I get a lot of messages from fellow singers and new singers alike who want advice regarding performing so I figured it might be helpful to write a blog post about performing in front of A LOT of people!

Firstly, to be invited to sing the National Anthem for a national event in our country's most iconic stadium is a huge privilege and incredibly exciting. I remember every time I have been asked, where I was and the feeling of complete exhilaration at having been asked to perform. That said, I must admit there is always a sense of fear though this can be managed - as proper preparation is the key to every performance. (There is no easy route just hard work!)
​

How to prepare….
 
The very first thing I do is to learn the words 'forwards & backwards', and this is how I do it... 

• Type up the words, print them out and put them around the house and on my phone.
• I then rewrite the words by hand many times.
• I then read the words out loud like poetry and do hand gestures, which seems very odd but it helps me learn the words quickly. (My neighbours must think I’m nuts)

Regarding the National Anthem - it is generally requested that you sing it quite straight (as it was written) so we work on making a pure, rounded, sound which is fully supported because - as you can imagine, singing to 90,000 people is rather daunting. In order to make for slightly more realistic rehearsals, my vocal coach Kathy also pretends we are doing the performance by shoving a camera in my face and recording it so that on the day this is not such a distraction. Earlier this year I was back at Wembley for my 10th stadium performance and I remember watching back the first time I did it and my face looked like I had seen a ghost lol. So we worked a lot on my facial expressions, smiling is key!

Being fit and Healthy

It sounds obvious but not getting ill before a big performance is SO important and sometimes a nightmare to manage, especially during the Winter!  Here is a list of things I do to try and keep healthy:

• Don’t drink alcohol
• Exercise regularly (good for both body & mind)
• Drink a lot of water and tea (I have a VocalZone every time I sing)
• Eat lots of vegetables
• Take vitamin supplements (if you need to)
• Have a regular sleep pattern
• During the Winter I try and avoid public transport as so many people are coughing & sneezing etc
• Avoid being out in crowded bars/places where you might strain your voice
• Wrap up like an Eskimo (always!)

Being mentally fit is also really important for me.  Making sure I am prepared (over-prepared generally) helps with keeping calm, I have learnt from therapy that going for a walk with my dog, watching a movie, taking time out or exercise works for me and avoiding stress and negative people but everyone is different so find what works best for you.

​The Day
 
I prefer to get to the venue basically 95% ready with hair & make-up done so I only have to put my dress on and lipstick.  You never know what will happen onsite, sometimes before a show or performance it can be rather stressful if the soundcheck is delayed or sound equipment is not working properly.  So, I have a rather dull porridge before I arrive which I know will give me energy and not upset my stomach, my hair is done by the very-talented Nina and I do my own make-up.  Many of you may not know that years ago I actually worked as a beauty buyer so have some knowledge of how to do my make-up - although I had some very questionable results at university! ;-)
 
Although you are only singing for exactly 46 secs when it comes time for the Anthem performance - a Wembley Stadium performance day is actually very long day as you have to arrive super-early for the soundcheck and then remain there all day until kick-off.  For my last performance there, earlier this year, the call time was at 8.45am and no sooner had I arrived and put my things in the changing room but I found things had changed and they needed me on-pitch earlier than anticipated for sound check and I hadn't even warmed up!  The sound check typically takes about 20 mins we run through the song, work out where I will be standing to perform, check the levels are all ok etc.  It’s such a surreal experience to perform in an empty stadium and it sounds completely different than it does once you fill the stands with 90,000 screaming fans. Once that is done we take a wonder around the pitch and hubby takes some pictures of me for the 'Gram ha ha….
 
After this is all done, my vocal coach (if she has come) and I do a small warm up and then there’s a 4 hour wait which feels like the longest 4 hours imaginable! It mostly consists of resting my voice, staying calm, breathing exercises and gentle warm ups. I am called to the players tunnel (which for all you fans is just a carpeted corridor really) and at this point there is an odd sense of calm - all the players are quiet and everyone just wants to get on with it. 
 
We stand at the side of the pitch and then I am instructed to go on the pitch it all happens so fast yet so slowly at the same time and then the drum roll begins tralallalalalla
 
 
The roar of 90,000 screaming fans after you finish is deafening and the wave of relief and happiness that all went well makes everything worth it.
 
Time to watch the game.

 Final Thoughts
 
I want to make it clear that having a career in music is not easy.  Not one of the other students who studied music with me at university is still pursuing a career in music, it’s ruthless and while yes it can appear on Instagram that it’s all ball gowns, events and glamour glamour glamour... 99% of my time is spent just sitting alone in a rehearsal room studying music. The rejection is constant and relentless but if it’s the only thing you want to do and that 1% makes you happy enough then follow your dreams and GOOD LUCK!

​Performing at the Royal Albert Hall marks a pinnacle of success for many musicians as it is certainly one of the most iconic venues in the UK and among the most famous in the world.  It has been my dream to perform there as a soloist for as long as I can remember. Early in my career I had the fortune to perform at the Albert Hall several times with the Royal Choral Society and also as a backing singer for Il Divo at The Classic Brit Awards - although this was many years ago now. 
 
On arriving at the venue for the big event, it wasn’t just me who was excited to perform there - Matthew Morrison and I discovered we were both realising a career-first and shared a mutual dream - making our debuts at The Royal Albert Hall.  It really is quite a special feeling when you realise that someone else is going to share the same moment as you… 

Bloodwise is the UK’s leading blood cancer charity and raises thousands of pounds each year for blood cancer research and supports patients and families affected by the disease which include leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma. It is important to me that when I decide to get involved with a charity that it means something to me. My dear friend George Norton is an ambassador for Bloodwise he has kicked blood cancer's butt not once but twice - he truly is an inspiration. We met 17 years ago when he was my team leader when we took disabled people to Lourdes he encouraged (made) me join his choir and pushed a rather nervous teenager to do a solo. At the Albert Hall, I requested that he should introduce me on stage and it was an incredibly special moment for both of us. George has a  wonderful blog which you can find by clicking the link below to have a read……
​betterfools.com/category/blog/

​I arrived at The Royal Albert Hall and was shown to my dressing room which, I was excited to discover, was next to Matthew Morrison's and across the hall from Tony Christie's, there was a palpable buzz in the air as we all introduced ourselves to each other and chatted about life, future goals and how excited we were to be there.
After unpacking my things and settling into the small but cosy dressing room, I was shown to the stage where the orchestra and choir were already set up and working through music for the night.  As I gazed up and looked around I was overawed by the magnitude and beauty of this historic venue... still pinching myself that I would soon be performing on that stage as I had dreamed for so many years.
My saviour, aka my vocal coach - Kathy Taylor-Jones, arrived on the scene soon after and we went through a warm-up together running through the song a few times before I was collected by the lovely charity team to do my soundcheck on stage...  On stage!  At this point I hadn't yet met the conductor and I hadn't even heard the arrangement of the song however you do always prepare for this as a performer.  The most important piece of advice I was ever given and that I can offer to anyone going through this for the first time themselves is to listen, Listen to the orchestra as everyone is working towards the same thing…. a great performance.

My hubby recorded the sound check / rehearsal and afterwards we scurried back to my dressing room and ripped the performance apart to work out what could be better (I have been doing this since I started singing professionally as I always want to make every performance the best)
After this was all done, we had a lot of down time so enjoyed some dinner, though looking through my suitcase I realised I had forgotten my bananas!!! (Eating before a performance is a bit of a nightmare and I avoid anything like cheese, chocolate, fish or anything that will bloat me, I basically live on Bananas).  Luckily the Bloodwise team saved the day and got me 10 which I then shared out with the other performers who were delighted as we watched our teams eat sandwiches, salads and cheese.  They made for a great ice-breaker too!

In the final hour before the show began I did a couple of interviews and posed for some backstage photos for Bloodwise and discussed things with my vocal coach. She always helps me put on my dress which, for this performance I was kindly loaned by a stunning brand called Kruszynska Couture. The dress was beyond beautiful having been stitched entirely by  hand and fitted like a glove... though still allowing enough breathing room to let me sing with ease.
About 10 mins before my performance time I was called to the side of the stage where my friend George was standing.  He had his own nerves to calm as he would be introducing me with TV presenter Ore Oduba who was hosting the whole event.  For me, the final moments before a performance are very quiet (can you believe it) and calm.  As soon as I walk on the stage I am filled with excitement my name is called and here we go…… 

As most of you know I was the first classical singer to sing the National Anthem at Wembley Stadium four times in one year. Since then I have sung at various stadiums around the country however I always had a dream to sing at Twickenham Stadium and last month with the help of Marie Curie that dream came true.

The evening was held to raise funds for a charity close to my heart - Marie Curie, who provide care to people with cancer and the terminally ill.  I was asked to perform on the pitch, which was such an honour, in front of guests including talkSPORT’s Georgie Bingham, Bill Beaumont CBE, John Spencer and Roger Lewis.

If you would like to read more about Marie Curie's Great Rugby Dinner and the incredible job they do. Check out the following link: ​https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/get-involved/charity-events/corporate-events/rugby-dinner

Please also check out my version of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and make sure you tweet about it! @coylenatalie

For those of you who don't know what the Duke of Edinburgh's Award entails it consists of the following:

• Volunteering - I worked in the British Red Shop charity shop.

• Skill - Singing

• Physical - Aerobics/ Gym

• Residential - I went to Lourdes to look after disabled people for a week.

And of course the expedition which consists of 5 days of walking and camping.

I went to Andorra and hiked the mountains, camped on snow peaked mountain tops and met some friendly mountain goats who insisted on sharing our food lol. Duke of Edinburgh shaped my life and allowed me to experience life skills I never would have tried otherwise.

The Big Day

I arrived at St James's Palace and was given a private tour of some of the state rooms which were incredibly beautiful and interesting, it was amazing to see Henry VIII's fireplace. I then met the other presenters who were Mr Alan Hinkes, Mountaineer, Phoebe Smith, Editor of Wanderlust, Naga Munchetty, BBC News Reader, Mr Robert Lindsay, Actor, Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe, Former MP and Minister of State/Writer and Broadcaster, Felicity Kendall CBE, Actress.

It was now time to give my speech to a rather large room filled with Gold Awardees and their parents about my journey from Duke of Edinburgh's Award to Wembley Stadium and how the Awards had changed my life. After giving my speech I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to speak to the Gold Awardees about where they travelled to and their achievements. His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh then came to speak to the Awardees about their achievement and where they had all been on their expeditions; it would appear all around the world.   Once he had spoken to all of the Awardees the Duke of Edinburgh and myself had a wonderful conversation about my Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award, singing the national anthem and performing around the UK. He thanked me for giving up my time to join him.

Please see below photos taken at the award ceremony at St. James's Palace