# Boy Soprano = Talented Singer as Grown Man? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 22, 2008, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-soprano-talented-singer-as-grown-man/453745 "2008-06-22T02:36:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-soprano-talented-singer-as-grown-man/453745/1 "2008-06-22T02:36:18Z")
[This boy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3iSABK7mWM) is a phenomenal singer. However, if I had to place a bet I’d say that his days as a boy soprano are going to be over in about six months. Historically, have boy sopranos gone on to be equally good singers as grown men? Or is puberty likely to be a death blow to this kid’s singing ability? ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-soprano-talented-singer-as-grown-man/453745/2 "2008-06-22T03:20:09Z")
I’m sure it probably depends on each person, but one example of a successful transition is [Aled Jones](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aled_Jones), a soprano from Wales who’s still performing and recording today. (Here’s a [YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aP2FMuvwkk) video of him performing _O Holy Night_ first as a boy and the later as an adult.) ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-soprano-talented-singer-as-grown-man/453745/3 "2008-06-22T03:29:37Z")
[QUOTE=SkipMagic] I’m sure it probably depends on each person, but one example of a successful transition is [Aled Jones](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aled_Jones), a soprano from Wales who’s still performing and recording today. (Here’s a [YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aP2FMuvwkk) video of him performing _O Holy Night_ first as a boy and the later as an adult.) [/QUOTE] Thanks for that, **SkipMagic** , that was a cool video. I particularly liked how he did a duet with his younger self - clever. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-soprano-talented-singer-as-grown-man/453745/4 "2008-06-22T04:05:44Z")
My understanding is that a boy singer’s voice change is a total crapshoot. A boy with the most gorgeous voice can become Pavoratti, Gilbert Godfried, or anything in between, and there is (a) no way to tell which it will be, and (2) nothing you can do about it.