KILLALOE – Students from three area schools were treated to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity when an up-and-coming music sensation visited St. Andrews Catholic School on October 9.
Tenille Nadkrynechny, better known as Tenille, was in town that day for the Pay it Forward tour, an interactive performance that encourages kids to follow their passions. Tim Hortons sponsored her visit to Killaloe. The tour has taken Tenille to all corners of Canada, inspiring kids along the way.
“That’s the format of this whole program is to be able to reach out to kids in schools and encourage them to do what they do best, which is play, and then take that and play it forward,” Tenille said before the show.
Raised in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Tenille released her first album, entitled, Real, in 2011. She raised over $350,000 for a youth emergency shelter in her home province.
Tenille was honoured as the youngest recipient in history to be presented with the Slaight Music Humanitarian Award at the 2012 Canadian Country Music Awards. The Alberta Country Music Association also awarded her Female Artist of the Year for two years in a row.
The 19-year-old has opened for Country superstars Terri Clark, Randy Travis, Easton Corbin and Gord Bamford amongst others. She has also performed at the Calgary Stampede and Bud Country festival.
Despite her achievements, Tenille remains humble and called the Pay it Forward tour a huge success.
“That’s the beauty of music, it has the power to communicate to people and give messages and bring awareness to issues and make an impact,” she said. “I am very grateful that I am passionate about music and get out and meet people through that.”
Read more in the October 16, 2013 issue of The Valley Gazette.