“Leading With His Heart”

20 February 2013Mrs. Edna Widenmaier, Director or Arts

It is a long and winding road from our old auditorium stage and playing Emile de Becque in South Pacific (1998) to being one of The Tenors performing on the spectacular Save-On-Food Memorial Arena Stage in front of 5,000 fans on Saturday, February 9.

It is a road not many have the conviction and courage to travel. Watching and listening to Clifton Murray, Rogers ‘98 (who also distinguished himself as a small forward on the basketball team and a winger on the First XV) give his all as one of The Tenors, now an internationally loved performing group, convinced me that he continues to have “the right stuff”.

His driving force is his passion for music.

The group of four tenors, two pop and two operatic, were featuring numbers from their new CD “Lead With Your Heart” along with their show-stopping versions of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and  their signature piece, “Nessun Dorma”. This new CD has gone platinum in Canada in eight weeks.

They have been thrilling audiences around the world with their blend of classical music and contemporary pop. Over the past two years, The Tenors have performed worldwide and shared the stage with legendary artists such as Celine Dion, Sting, and Paul McCartney. More recently, they were featured performers on two prime time international broadcasts: at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations from Windsor Castle where they also did a private performance for Her Majesty.

In addition to their music, the four are involved in several charities: the Bulembu Foundation and the Horatio Alger Association with the great work they do for those in need of scholarship funding for education.

Before their show in Victoria, they spent time entertaining patients and staff at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. Clifton’s sister, Georgia, Gwynneth ’02, was at the performance with the Murray family and fans to support her brother. She is also following in her brother’s footsteps with a singing career. Georgia, a finalist on “Cover Me Canada” in 2011, will be performing at our regatta this April as will Ashleigh Eymann ’02.

It was a very proud moment for Brentwood faculty who were there and such a joy for me to see this talented performer making such a success of what he does so well, so grown up and suave on stage, yet remaining the wonderful guy with the big smile who loved to hit high notes.

Mrs. Edna Widenmaier, Director of Arts

P.S. Mrs. Widenmaier modestly failed to mention that Clifton publically recognized, during the concert, both her and Mr. Clayton Johnston for their key roles in enriching his time at Brentwood. The Editor.