TONY CANDE – ARTIST AND MUSICIAN
We encountered Tony some seven years ago when we were exploring the region to find artists of quality. Since the our relationship and admiration for his work has grown.
Tony started his art career many years ago, in the face of much opposition. But his spirit and need to be creative gave Tony the strength of conviction he needed to be a successful artist.
One day we will publish his astounding story, one which we know will move readers and let them understand the physical challenges of his life that most people would be utterly despaired with (and most would give way to the despairs). Tony is different and has a spirit of belief in himself and God that shows what can be realised.
Last year, 2008, we discovered another talent. Now you have to imagine our amazement in this discovery! In 2007 his church suffered a split of the leaders, and the choir (Tony was a singer) was split. The choir master was in the other bunch and Tony’s did not have a choirmaster.
Tony, who left school at the age of 13 or so, offered his services to be the choirmaster for his bunch, and help them to grow into an effective choir. His team accepted his offer, so Tony now had a new challenge. Learn choir music.
So Tony did just that, and learned how to read and write choir music. Tony had many challenges along the way, but he found one man who was able to help him for a short while.
To the astonishment of his choir Tony, in 2008 after just a year as the leader of the choir (during this period Tony learned how to read and write music and compose songs), suggested that the choir joins a major competition of choirs – 90 choirs, in fact. His choir felt they did not have the experience, but Tony was very simple in his explanation: “This is how we will get the experience”.
They joined the competition and were selected (60 choirs from the 90) to go through the 10 week elimination process. They got to the 7th week of the elimination process, so they missed the quarter, semi, and final sessions only. What a remarkable achievement, all within 18 months of staring his choir.
All the music the choir sings is composed by Tony and all the songs are written by him. The songs are a mixture of “classic” and “tribal”, and they were exceptionally popular with the listeners and judges.
Right now we are focussing on producing a CD of his songs, as part of our support process for exceptional people and supporting worthy community efforts.
We have outstanding admiration for Tony and his ability to overcome obstacles that happen to appear in his pathway. Art is Tony’s means of income and support for his family, but his goal is to develop a foundation where he can encourage others to follow his principles of goodness and belief in overcoming obstacles. We devote a portion of the sales of Tony’s art to the foundation.
An artist, a musician, a composer, a songwriter, a community builder. Fantastic!
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