Tenore is coming, and both of this week’s shows by the award-winning new group are free.
Tenore, which is managed by founder Jill Ann Siemens of Victoria, is also announcing a new partnership with the Watoto children’s choir of Africa.
When Watoto stopped in Victoria for five shows last year, Siemens went to them all.
“These are rescued kids from less than ideal conditions and they’re so happy in their performance, it’s the most beautiful thing. I cried tears of joy the entire week,” Siemens said.
The resulting partnership will also see Tenore donate proceeds of CD sales to the Watoto program.
Siemens led the initiative to put Tenore together following the success of her previous project, the Canadian Tenors, and Tenore has taken off even faster than the Tenors did.
“The first CD only came out in 2011, and right away it’s garnered a lot of attention. Maybe things are going faster this time because I have that much more experience.”
The trio of tenors are Shane Wiebe (Abbotsford), Jason Catron (Nashville, Tenn.) and Mark David Williams (Arden Hills, Minn.).
Tenore come to Victoria this week from Ottawa where they played a private gig on Tuesday (May 1) for Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s National Prayer Breakfast.
Show times are at the Glad Tidings Church on May 6, 1:30 p.m., and at the Church of our Lord on May 9 at 7 p.m. Admission is free.
This story has been abbreviated from a previous version, which incorrectly reported the Watoto children’s choir would be performing two shows. Watoto is, in fact, on tour in Saskatchewan this week. The News regrets the error.
