LaJollaLight.com | Australia's Ten Tenors return to San Diego

Australia's Ten Tenors return to San Diego

Dec 2, 2009
By Diana Saenger





		Members of The Ten Tenors include (standing) Steven Sowden, Dominic Smith, Jeff Teale, Josh Peterman, Benjamin Clark, Boyd Owen, Graham Foote (and sitting) Stewart Morris, Tod Strike and Luke Kennedy. Photo: Broadway San Diego

The Ten Tenor's CDs are everywhere.

Their YouTube videos reveal their masterful voices in "World Anthem," the nostalgic heart-grabbing tones of "Danny Boy," the dance-happy "Bee Gees Medley," or their sobering "Here's to the Heroes That Change Our Lives."

They've performed around the world, and now The Ten Tenors will bring their holiday show to the San Diego Civic Theatre Dec. 8 -13.

Dion Molinas, Tod Strike, Benjamin Clark, Jeff Teale, Graham Foote, Steven Snowden, Dominic Smith, Stewart Morris, Boyd Owen and Luke Kennedy provide the group's astounding voices.

They've garnered acclaim in venues like London's Royal Albert Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow.

"As a musician this is what you strive for," Morris said. "We love touring and meeting new people. We just went to China and Peru where it was crazy with bodyguards and soldiers backstage."

Being on the road for so long can be hard on family back home. "(Yes) it's hard for us who are married," Kennedy said. "Sometimes our wives join us, although that's not cheap coming from Australia, but they understand that we are doing what we love and they support us."

Their repertoire - including AC/DC (Thunderstruck) Queen (Bohemian Rhapsody) rap, country, opera - includes music that's as varied as the men's personalities. From their modest 1995 beginnings when the 10 opera students from Queensland Conservatorium of Music united to perform at corporate events, the group is now a platinum record-selling and touring act hailed by the world's music critics.

The group sings in seven or eight languages and also dances in some routines.

Spend even a few brief moments with the tenors and it's apparent they have an incredible camaraderie. They truly seem to enjoy each other's company.

"We also eat right, enjoy sports when we can, like maybe play a round of golf, exercise, and just have fun whether throwing tennis balls around the airport or playing a game with anything we have," Teale said. "Give us five business cards and a book on a table, and we can make a game of it."

The tenors said they appreciate where they're at today and the opportunities that come their way.

"As young singers we spent a lot of time in choirs and amateur musicals developing a passion for our art form," Smith said. "To do it as professional singers and travel the world is a dream come true and unheard of for an Australian singer."

'The Ten Tenors Holiday'
When: Dec. 8-13
Where: San Diego Civic Theatre, Third and B Street
Tickets: $15-$72
(619) 570-1100
www.broadwaysd.com

Diana Saenger
Diana Saenger is a freelance writer for the La Jolla Light. To make comments about articles, contact talkback@lajollalight.com.

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