Bonifantes, an extraordinary choir of 32 boys, ages 10-18, from Pardubice, Czech Republic, will be touring the United States and Canada from Feb. 21 through March 21.

While in Maine for five nights, they will be giving public concerts at 7 p.m. at Telstar High School in Bethel on Feb. 25 and at 7:30 at Nordica Auditorium at UMF on Friday, Feb. 28, and will be appearing in schools in Bethel, Farmington, Kingfield and Strong.

This extraordinary opportunity for international cultural enrichment is a collaborative project of the Arts Institute of Western Maine, the Mahoosuc Arts Council, and Kingfield Pops to bring a world-class musical group to the Maine Mountain Region for an extended stay of performances, school programs, and experiencing hospitality in communities including Bethel.

The foundation for this visit is the musical friendship between Bruce McInnes, director of the UMF-Community Chorus and the Old South Church Choir, and Jan Misek, the director of the Bonifantes Boys Choir growing out of the meeting of the Bonifantes and Bruce McInnes’ Mastersingers USA in a festival in Barcelona in 2005.

Bonifantes had a successful tour of the U.S. and Canada in 2006, and in planning a return visit this year, decided to add western Maine to their tour for an extended stay. 

For more information on Bonifantes, visit: www.bonifantes.cz