GMG TORONTO 2002

Gospel Musicians Visit Toronto in Support of
World Youth Day 2002


Contact : Denis Grady, denis.grady@home.com,Tour Manager, 877-243-7989 (Canada)

The Toronto Italian community will welcome prominent gospel singers, Roberto Bignoli of Milano and Marco Tavola of Roma to Canada in a series on concerts scheduled for this November.
The concerts are being presented as fund-raisers to assist Toronto Catholic youth groups in their plans for World Youth Day 2002.

Roberto Bignoli   is well known throughout Italy and Europe for his work in Christian music. His foray into the music scene happened when he was sixteen, singing on the streets of Italy, various pop festivals and clubs throughout Europe. His ambition for pop stardom was interrupted in 1984 after a faith experience. Since then Bignoli has released 7 CDs, that reflect a deep spirituality and a passion for singing what he believes.
As a Christian artist his tour venue has taken him to prisons, hospitals, recovery communities, schools and churches.
A polio survivor who today walks with the aid of two crutches and the survivor of a sad and painful childhood, (his parents abandoned him when he was a child and he later spent time in jail) Bignoli possess the energy and drive of 10 healthy men. His testimony vividly reflects an amazing story of a confused, hurting human transformed to a peaceful, joyous soul through a new understanding of God. He clearly understands suffering and uses his music to speak hope to those who live in pain.
On the musical side, his voice is reminiscent at times of American JJ Cale, and his arrangements cover the map of pop, rock, blues and folk. His recordings have a wonderful mix of a subtle European classical influence beautifully interwoven with a North American pop feel. The real character of his songs is best defined by the spiritual lyric that is not shy about singing to and about God.
He has enough experience carrying the Christian message to present it in a fresh contemporary musical format with success. In Roberto's site you can find several and interesting interviews!(http://bignoli.retecattolica.org/), very soon you  listen Bignoli's music at the following site www.mp3.com/robertobignoli made by  italian canadian friend of his : Tony Rino.

Marco Tavola is also a producer/engineer who spent several years in Los Angeles studying audio recording technique.
Tavola's background is a real contrast to Bignoli's. He was born into an affluent Italian family but amidst the wealth, lingered a spiritual hunger. He recognized his spiritual poverty in 1995 while living in Rome. The fast cars, motorcycles, women and all the luxury money offers ceased to offer him any inner fulfillment. It was at this time that he read "The Simple Path" by Mother Teresa. The message awoke his heart to God's quiet power to give lasting peace.
He sold all his possessions and moved to the country where he bought some horses and animals and embarked on a new quest to get free. One morning after attending Mass he approached the priest and asked for an explanation of the day's sermon.
The priest recognized Marco's loneliness and invited him to return to the church the next day.
As Marco approached the church the following day he came to an intersection. To the left was a soccer game (he is a gifted athlete who has a passion for sport) and to the right was the church.
He turned right and met with the priest and many new Christian friends including a devout Catholic, Roman beauty named Arianna.
The fellowship was so authentic in comparison to the shallow relationships of his high society past, that he opened his life further to God's calling. The next month he did the spiritual exercises of St. Thomas and then made his general confession, surrendering his baggage to God.
He married Arianna the following year and has been blessed with two children and another due this December.
His zeal for serving God and the Church with his gifts has transformed his life.
He clearly recognizes the trappings of the world in keeping souls from coming to Christ, especially in young people.
His music is devoted to reaching young people with the message that they are needed in the work of God's kingdom. Tavola's music can be heard at http://www.marcotavola.it or http://www.mp3.com/marcotavola

The tour is being coordinated by Christian Child Care International, a Canadian third world sponsorship agency. (http://www. ccare.net)
Proceeds will be shared among the participating parish youth groups and youth from the Third World who hope to attend World Youth Day 2002.

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Special guests Don Mimmo Iervolino, a popular singing priest from Napoli ,Catholic singer Donna Lee from San Diego and Denis Grady from Calgary will join Bignoli and Tavola in concert.

Roberto Marco e Denis will finish their tour (06 novembre - 03 dicembre)to Washington in the United States, where Roberto will receive "AWARD" premium as best international singer by the UCMVA, international catholic organization

For this occasion Radio Kolbe Sat produced a Multimedial cd titled "Italian Christian Music" in which are included three videos (Tavola - Grady -  Bignoli)  and 10 songs (Tavola - Bignoli).

This year's Festival theme:

"I am the Resurrection and the Life" (J 11, 25)

The Festival will take place at the John Paul II Cultural Centre at 4300 Cawthra Road in Mississauga from November 9 to November 11, 2001. This year special guests are: Marco Tavola & Roberto Bignoli - Italy, Tomek Kaminski - Poland, Denis Grady & David Macdonld - Canada...


Roberto Bignoli is well known throughout Italy and Europe for his work in Christian music. His foray into the music scene happened when he was sixteen, singing on the streets of Italy, various pop festivals and clubs throughout Europe. His ambition for pop stardom was interrupted in 1984 after a faith experience. Since then Bignoli has released 7 CDs, that reflect a deep spirituality and a passion for singing what he believes.
As a Christian artist his tour venue has taken him to prisons, hospitals, recovery communities, schools and churches.
A polio survivor who today walks with the aid of two crutches and the survivor of a sad and painful childhood,(His parents abandoned him when he was a child and he later spent time in jail) Bignoli possess the energy and drive of 10 healthy men. His testimony vividly reflects an amazing story of a confused, hurting human transformed to a peaceful, joyous soul through a new understanding of God. He clearly understands suffering and uses his music to speak hope to those who live in pain.
On the musical side, his voice is reminiscent at times of American JJ Cale, and his arrangements cover the map of pop, rock, blues and folk.
He has enough experience carrying the Christian message to present it in a fresh contemporary musical format with success.

Festival info On-Air:  tel. 416-276-1216
Catholic Youth Studio on AM530
everyday from 8:00pm in Polish or Sunday at 9:00 in English.

Monday 26 novembre 2001 12.27

Loreta

I AM A PARISHNER FROM ST.DAVID'S FROM MAPLE ONTARIO WANT TO SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR SINGING AT OUR PARISH. IT WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL AND UPLIFTING CONCERT. MY HEART JUMPED FOR JOY. MY FRIENDS AND I WERE VERY HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT THIS EVENT. WE CANNOT STOP LISTENING TO THE MUSIC. EVERYDAY WE LOOK FORWARD TO
LISTENING TO THE MUSIC.
KEEP UP THE WONDERFUL WORK FOR MARY AND JESUS. WE THANK THE LORD FOR SUCH AN EVENT. I LIKE TO KNOW WHERE I CAN PURCHASE OTHER CDs. THANKS AGAIN! GOD BLESS!! LORETA  CIAO CIAO!!