The Candadian Tenors Return to Vancouver for 'Voices for Bulembu', 9/17

There is an old African saying that says, "It takes a village to raise a child." But Bulembu, a small town in Swaziland, Africa, is proving that while it may indeed take a village to raise a child, it will take a generation of children to transform a nation.
 
According to the UNAIDS (the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS), recent statistics estimate the country of Swaziland has the world's highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate - a staggering 38.8%. Few families remain unaffected by the disease and the loss of so many young parents has resulted in an estimated 120,000 orphaned and vulnerable children in Swaziland (15% of the total population), who have limited or no access to formal social support and have been left to fend for themselves.
 
Believing that restoring one town could be the hope for transforming a nation, a team of entrepreneurs and social developers purchased the abandoned town of Bulembu in 2006 with a vision to restore Bulembu to a vibrant, self sustaining community by the year 2020.  This vision for sustainability includes providing total care for 2,000 orphans and fostering the development of a new generation of emerging leaders.
 
September 17 to19, 2010, The Canadian Tenors will raise their voices to raise funds and awareness for the transformational work taking place in Bulembu in the weekend-long Voices for Bulembu Campaign.
 
The Canadian Tenors return after thrilling audiences at the inaugural Voices for Bulembu in 2009, which raised $945,000 for the restoration of Bulembu.  This year, the 2010 Voices for Bulembu Campaign features two extraordinary events: Voices for Bulembu - A Legacy Weekend at Mission Hill and Voices for Bulembu - Live at the Chan Centre.
 
September 17 to 18, 2010, Bulembu presents Voices for Bulembu - A Legacy Weekend at Mission Hill at the Mission Hill Family Estate in West Kelowna, BC.
 
The weekend's activities include private sommelier wine tours of Mission Hill Family Estates, time on the links enjoying some of Western Canada's best fairways and greens, a private stand up dinner at the winery featuring top chefs in a "Best of the Okanagan" reception, and the capstone event - a special concert by The Canadian Tenors in the Mission Hill amphitheater overlooking Okanagan Lake.
 
Sunday, September 19, 2010, Bulembu presents Voices for Bulembu - Live at the Chan Centre featuring the musical talents of The Canadian Tenors and special guests, including Afro-cuban sensation Wil Campa and the concert emcee John Mann of Spirit of the West. This evening includes a pre-concert reception where top local restaurants Araxi (Best Whistler, Gold*), Blue Water Café + Raw Bar (Restaurant of the Year, Gold; Chef of the Year, Frank Pabst*), Cin Cin (Best Last Course, Gold*) and West (Restaurant of the Year, Bronze*) will serve up master creations from a "Best of Vancouver" tasting menu paired with wine from the Mission Hill Family Estate. 
 
 
The Canadian Tenors have been involved with Bulembu since they visited the town in August of 2008. 
 
"One cannot help but be inspired by the countless signs of hope," says Fraser Walters. "This hope is especially embodied in the children of Bulembu who, with continued support, now have the opportunity to become the country's future leaders."
 
Since their debut in 2007, The Canadian Tenors have made an amazing impact around the world. They are continuing to thrill audiences of all ages with their powerful music and warm personalities. Made up of Port McNeil's Clifton Murray, Toronto's Victor Micallef, Quebec's Remigio Pereria and Vancouver's Fraser Walters, the quartet have recently finished an 80 city North American tour. Recently, they performed their stunning version of Hallelujah on Oprah where they were surprised to be joined by Celine Dion.  They have performed on Dr. Phil and at the opening of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. A unique mix of classical and contemporary pop, the Tenor's self-titled debut album, released by Universal Music, has gone gold in Canada as has their holiday album, "The Perfect Gift."
Collaborating with artists like Sarah McLachlan, sharing the stage with legends like Andrea Bocelli and Neil Young, performing for the likes of President Clinton, Prime Minister Tony Blair, President George Bush and Prime Minister Steven Harper, and requested to be the Canadian Ambassadors for Toronto's 2015 Pan Am Games, the Tenors truly are Canada's representatives on the world stage.
Advocates and ambassadors, philanthropists and performers, the Canadian Tenors will perform and share their vision for Bulembu as part of the 2010 Voices for Bulembu campaign this coming September.
 
Tickets for both Canadian events are on sale now and are available only at www.bulembu.org/voices.