Put together three brilliant tenor voices with natural Irish brogue, singing spine-tingling classical, folk, Irish, Gaelic and pop favourites in stacked three-part harmonies, then mix them up with quick-witted banter and you have The Celtic Tenors. Three classically-trained Irish tenor voices, Matthew Gilsenan (the more pop style), James Nelson (the more operatic), and Daryl Simpson (the go-to-guy for the high notes), melding together not just in their music but in their relationship with each other and with the audience – all with rollicking good humour. They have recorded eight albums, performed around the world and sung for world leaders.
“It has been said that the Celtic Tenors do for Irish tenor singing what River Dance has done for Irish dance – bringing it to the 21st century,” said Nelson. “We were the first cross-over tenor act from Ireland and the only one that’s still together. We put that down to the fact that we were created not by a TV program or for fame but because we love music – and harmony.”
“Years ago we wouldn’t have been on stage together,” Nelson said. “I’m Southern Irish Protestant from Sligo, Daryl is from Omagh in Northern Ireland, and Matthew is an Irish Catholic from County Meath. Daryl set up the Omagh Community Youth Choir after the biggest single bombing atrocity in Northern Ireland, bringing Catholics and Protestants to sing together, promoting peace through music. Matthew was born into a hardworking farm family in North Meath. Matthew’s busy singing life ran in parallel with his engineering career until 1997 when he decided to take a six-month sabbatical from engineering to embark on his singing career. He’s never looked back. Nelson is part of an ongoing building project in Kenya, helping give AIDS orphans a second chance at life as well as teaching them music. Nelson says, “when asking the children why they are on top of the world, they reply, ‘we’re alive.’ Some of the children sing Amazing Grace with their eyes closed. I get very emotional and must leave the room. Lyrics are very important to me – every song has a hidden meaning.”
Don’t miss The Celtic Tenors performing on Sunday, December 3rd at 3pm at Central Heights Church (Abbotsford) along with the Vancouver Island Symphony and the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra conducted by Calvin Dyck. See below for pricing and a ticket link button.
“It has been said that the Celtic Tenors do for Irish tenor singing what River Dance has done for Irish dance – bringing it to the 21st century,” said Nelson. “We were the first cross-over tenor act from Ireland and the only one that’s still together. We put that down to the fact that we were created not by a TV program or for fame but because we love music – and harmony.”
“Years ago we wouldn’t have been on stage together,” Nelson said. “I’m Southern Irish Protestant from Sligo, Daryl is from Omagh in Northern Ireland, and Matthew is an Irish Catholic from County Meath. Daryl set up the Omagh Community Youth Choir after the biggest single bombing atrocity in Northern Ireland, bringing Catholics and Protestants to sing together, promoting peace through music. Matthew was born into a hardworking farm family in North Meath. Matthew’s busy singing life ran in parallel with his engineering career until 1997 when he decided to take a six-month sabbatical from engineering to embark on his singing career. He’s never looked back. Nelson is part of an ongoing building project in Kenya, helping give AIDS orphans a second chance at life as well as teaching them music. Nelson says, “when asking the children why they are on top of the world, they reply, ‘we’re alive.’ Some of the children sing Amazing Grace with their eyes closed. I get very emotional and must leave the room. Lyrics are very important to me – every song has a hidden meaning.”
Don’t miss The Celtic Tenors performing on Sunday, December 3rd at 3pm at Central Heights Church (Abbotsford) along with the Vancouver Island Symphony and the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra conducted by Calvin Dyck. See below for pricing and a ticket link button.
CELTIC TENORS TICKET PRICES:
Advance tickets: (click on button below for advance tickets exclusively available on Eventbrite - they will add tax/fees to each ticket purchased)
$38 - Adults
$34 - Seniors
$15 - Students
Walk-in Tickets: (price includes tax and fee)
$45 - Adults
$42 - Seniors
$20 - Students
Advance tickets: (click on button below for advance tickets exclusively available on Eventbrite - they will add tax/fees to each ticket purchased)
$38 - Adults
$34 - Seniors
$15 - Students
Walk-in Tickets: (price includes tax and fee)
$45 - Adults
$42 - Seniors
$20 - Students
SSS presents A SYMPHONY for CHRISTMAS
Friday Dec 22 @7pm; Saturday Dec 23 @2pm and 7pm - Central Heights Church
Songs Strings & Steps presents “A Symphony for Christmas” at Central Heights Church in Abbotsford. This annual Christmas event with music director Calvin Dyck, is one of the best loved concert traditions in the Fraser Valley. There will be three performances on December 22nd and 23rd. This year’s concert will feature a full symphony orchestra performing excerpts from the “Nutcracker”, and classic arrangements of “Sleigh Ride” and “Polar Express”. In addition, the program will feature a 50-voice choir from Pacific Voices performing works such as “Sing Noel, Sing Hallelujah”, and “Where the Light Begins”, along with an entertaining mash-up called “Christmas Confusion”.
There will be surprises for the audience and an inspiring version of “Little Drummer Boy” featuring virtuoso drummer Luke Hildebrandt and a unique re-telling of Luke 2 with the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra. An annual highlight for our audience returns by popular demand with the brass playing the soul stirring “O Magnum Mysterium”, and Brooklyn Gerber will play a solo piano version of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”. The audience will be invited to sing along on favourite carols such as “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Angels We Have Heard on High”.
Vocalist Robbie Down will be featured on Michael W. Smith's “Welcome to Our World”, and “Noel” (made famous by Lauren Daigle). Calvin Dyck will play violin solos on several pieces including “What Child is This?” and “O Holy Night”.
Note that buying your tickets in advance will be less expensive than buying them at the door - see below:
A SYMPHONY for CHRISTMAS TICKET PRICES:
Advance tickets (click on button below for advance tickets exclusively available on Eventbrite - they will add tax/fees to each ticket purchased)
$32 - Adults
$30 - Seniors
$15 - Students
Walk-in Tickets: (price includes tax and fee)
$40 - Adults
$35 - Seniors
$20 - Students
There will be surprises for the audience and an inspiring version of “Little Drummer Boy” featuring virtuoso drummer Luke Hildebrandt and a unique re-telling of Luke 2 with the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra. An annual highlight for our audience returns by popular demand with the brass playing the soul stirring “O Magnum Mysterium”, and Brooklyn Gerber will play a solo piano version of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”. The audience will be invited to sing along on favourite carols such as “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Angels We Have Heard on High”.
Vocalist Robbie Down will be featured on Michael W. Smith's “Welcome to Our World”, and “Noel” (made famous by Lauren Daigle). Calvin Dyck will play violin solos on several pieces including “What Child is This?” and “O Holy Night”.
Note that buying your tickets in advance will be less expensive than buying them at the door - see below:
A SYMPHONY for CHRISTMAS TICKET PRICES:
Advance tickets (click on button below for advance tickets exclusively available on Eventbrite - they will add tax/fees to each ticket purchased)
$32 - Adults
$30 - Seniors
$15 - Students
Walk-in Tickets: (price includes tax and fee)
$40 - Adults
$35 - Seniors
$20 - Students
