Canadian tenor Ken Lavigne is a man who isn’t afraid to dream big.
The singer, composer and all-around entertainer set out on a lofty endeavour in 2009 to perform at New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall, a goal he was able to accomplish, performing to over 1,200 people. He isn’t done yet. Now, Lavigne has his sights set on another famed venue, the world famous Sydney Opera House.
“I know that it will happen,” Lavigne said. His goal is to perform in Sydney by July 2015.
“It’s a sustained sprint,” Lavigne laughed.
While he works towards knocking another high-profile venue off the bucket list, Lavigne is touring his most recent release, a Christmas album titled Comfort and Joy.
Lavigne will be joining the B.C. Boys Choir at the Cleland Theatre on Dec. 5 for Penticton Community Concert’s second show of the season.
The performance in Penticton will mark the first time Lavigne has performed with the B.C. Boys Choir. However, he’s already a fan.
“They’re really good. I’ve heard them perform and they are absolutely amazing,” Lavigne said.
The director of the choir reached out to Lavigne in the summer, and he was happy to find out the show fit into his schedule.
“It’s something I’m really passionate about. These young kids, if they are interested in singing and want to continue, I think maybe I can pass on some insight to them and see if they want to continue on with their career,” Lavigne said.
The performance will feature some songs from Comfort and Joy, albeit scaled back from their original versions recorded with the Vancouver Island Symphony at the Port Theatre in Nanaimo.
This isn’t Lavigne’s first Christmas album, he and a friend put one together five years ago, however it’s a much more concerted effort this time around.
“I was still really green in terms of recording and we just kind of did the best with what we had,” Lavigne said, adding his first Christmas effort was made with himself, his friend and a computer in a basement.
The latest album took a year and a half from the original concept to completion. The songs on Comfort and Joy will encompass a range of Christmas-themed music.
“I do delve into the more classical division of Christmas songs and Christmas carols, but there’s also, I don’t know if you’d call them modern, but Bing Crosby and classic white Christmas songs about the season that are perennial favourites,”
For more information on Lavigne visit www.kenlavigne.com and to find out more about the B.C. Boys Choir visit www.bcboyschoir.org
Tickets are available for $30, as well as $5 discounted tickets for students, at the Shatford Centre.