Classical singer Katherine Jenkins is set to perform an evening of spectacular music at the Mote Park Proms, alongside musical theatre group Collabro.

Katherine, who has performed for the Pope and can include the royal family in her throng of fans, is now ready to wow Kent fans as part of the Park Live series in Maidstone this month.

“I’m very much looking forward to the concert at Mote Park this year,” says Katherine excitedly. “I love the summer concerts, they’re always just such a celebration. It’s lovely to be out in a beautiful location with a full orchestra and to see people really enjoying themselves.”

It didn’t take long for our conversation to bring up lockdown memories as this summer is the first time many artists, including Katherine, will perform in front of large crowds again.

“I think going through the pandemic and doing all the at-home concerts, you wondered if you’d ever get back to seeing people face-to-face again,” says the 42-year-old singer. “I think being out there now is kind of putting all of that behind us and giving people a really good night out.

“I want to just, for a couple of hours, entertain them, make them have a fabulous night, because I think that’s what’s deserved.”

Katherine, who recently performed at Sandringham as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, admits that, although she loves performing her outdoor concerts, she does envy the crowd who get to sit back and enjoy the show.

“I think we do these kinds of concerts really well in the UK,” she says proudly. “To see people get in the mood, come prepared - they might be sat there with a bottle of wine or a picnic - I actually look out and think, that looks quite nice. I’d like to be doing that!”

While we joke that perhaps Katherine might get a chance to sneak out to watch a concert this summer, it sounds like she’ll be too busy working on a setlist to win over both lifelong classical music fans and those making their proms debut.

“I’m going to be singing songs that are from all my albums, but with all the proms stuff at the end,” she says. “I’m from such a normal background in Wales, I didn’t grow up in a household that listened to opera or classical music.

“Whether it’s Phantom of the Opera or the Greatest Showman, or a classical version of a pop song like I Will Always Love You, there are so many great pieces out there that sound amazing with a full orchestra. By the time we get to the end of the evening we’ve usually got the audience singing along as well and I love that!”

Katherine will also be joined at the Mote Park Proms by musical theatre group Collabro, best known for covering hits from shows such as West Side Story and Les Misérables.

“Collabro are brilliant!” Katherine, who has performed with the group several times before, exclaims. “I know the audience are going to love them. I think it’ll be a really nice balance of the classical pieces that are really well known to everybody, through to pop songs and musical theatre.”

As we look back at Katherine’s incredible career, from her jam-packed summer schedule to her back-catalogue of number one albums, theatre shows and landmark concerts, it begs the question - what’s next?

“You know, I still look at everything and can’t quite believe that it’s happened, so I always feel greedy to ask for any more,” says the Mezzo Soprano singer. “If I can just keep singing, doing the live shows and summer concerts - I’ve still got two little ones at home, so if I can just keep doing that whilst being mummy, then that’s more than I could ever wish for.”

And will Katherine’s children, aged four and six, be cheering her on at her summer concerts?

“They'll be there waving the flags!” Katherine laughs. “They love it. In fact, my daughter wants to be on stage with me, so she’ll definitely be there cheering me on.

“She would love nothing more than to be on the stage with me at Mote Park, I’m sure!”

Katherine Jenkins will be at the Mote Park Proms in Maidstone on Saturday, July 23. Book tickets online here.