Ten Tenors bring festive charm with new Christmas album
Meet the Ten Tenors, ten charismatic yet down-to-earth blokes with voices of angels. Having toured the past 16 years to sell-out performances worldwide, they’re with a doubt one of Australia’s most successful singing groups. The classic-crossover group have just released their Christmas album, Our Christmas Wish, which features 14 of the Ten Tenor’s favourite songs – including festive family favourites like The Little Drummer Boy and All I Want for Christmas.
Not only can these ten young men sing a beautiful Christmas carol, they’re doing it for a wonderful cause. All proceeds from the sale of their holiday album will go to the Children’s Hospital Foundation to support life-saving medical research, vital new equipment, and provide comfort, entertainment, support and care programs for sick children and their families. With an aim to raise $1,000,000 for the foundation, it’s clear these boys not only have a golden sound, but hearts of gold too.
As one of the tenors, Jared Newell, explains, it was their way of giving back to the community.
“When it came to releasing the album this year, we found an incredible charity in the Children’s Hospital Foundation based out in Queensland and decided that since it was a Christmas album and the perfect time of year for giving rather than receiving, we made a deal to make sure all proceeds from the album go the children’s hospital,” explains Jared.
He adds, “The album is something we’re really proud of. We’re glad we’re able to tour a show that’s not only creatively pleasing for us but also a really great way for us to give back.”
Over60 caught up with these lovely boys with beautiful voices and discovered exactly why they’ve got so many fans worldwide. Not only are they charming to speak to, especially when talking about their decision to fundraise for charity, they’ve got fine vocal talents, with the Ten Tenors giving the Over60 office a taste of their Christmas album by serenading us with the classic Christmas carol, Joy to the World.
But it’s when we asked them about their favourite memory of their grandparents that it became truly clear how genuine, kind and loving these ten tenors are. We couldn’t help but think, with such great relationships with their grandparents, no wonder these ten tenors turned out to be such good blokes.
Jared Newall – “Being Christmas, it is a family time of year and I remember when I was younger going for fish and chip lunches with my grandparents on my dad’s side. We did that just before I went on tour – it was really fun, and when I see them at Christmas, we’ll be reminiscing about things like that.”
Cameron Barclay – “I used to live very far away from my grandparents so Christmas time was pretty much the only time I would see them. They live in a very beautiful part of New Zealand called Hawkes Bay. I remember always hanging there with my granddad and grandma when I was a little kid.”
Lucas Gelsumini – “My fondest memories were at Christmas time, a time of music and food. The family would get together at our grandparents’ home and we’d take turns playing different musical instruments, have food, laugh and just spend time together. It was so lovely.”
Paul Gelsumini – “Our grandfather was pretty talented, he played nine instruments. As far back as I can remember we would just always play and sing and eat and be merry.”
James D. Smith – “I’m really close to my grandparents, I’m still very close to my Nan. She was the big cook in our family and she would do big Christmas spreads and all the family would go over there for Christmas. I also remember going caravanning with my grandparents when I was younger. I’ve got a lot of fond memories.”
Toby Francis – “My fondest memory is probably after school as my mum worked late so I stayed with my grandparents a lot. They’re probably the reason I sing, as they would take me to singing lessons. I use to sing a lot of rock music before I joined the tenors and my grandma would always say, ‘Why don’t you sing something nice?’”
Sebastian Maclaine – “My best memories with my grandparents are the big family get-togethers, with them at the head. I remember just feeling loved and warmness from them. Having someone to fight your quarter against your mum or dad is pretty nice too.”
Michael Edwards – “My grandparents used to own a farm and Christmas time was the one time where everyone would go down there – cousins, auntie and uncles and everyone. They had a pool so it was always tradition to jump in the pool straight after lunch. Lots of good memories down there on the farm.”
Sam Roberts-Smith – “My grandparents used to have this really amazing beach house and when I was younger they would take me out crayfishing. I just remember having my little floaties on and wading around the ocean with my grandparents.”
Keane Fletcher – “My grandparents used to take me to the movies all the time during the school holidays. The first movie they took me to see was the Disney’s Snow White, and as I was very up-to-date with all my fairytales, when Snow White was about to eat the poison apple, I stood up and screamed, ‘Don’t eat the apple!’”
To find more about the Ten Tenors, visit their website here.
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