Yellowknife (May 26/06) - Picture a young, talented, classically-trained tenor, well-dressed, ready to sing his heart out in front of a crowd next week at Northern United Place. Now picture him and his piano accompanist sitting in a 1990 Winnebago in Alberta.

"Baritonal tenor" James Dundass will perform at Northern United Place on June 1 and 2. His Yellowknife performance is just one of 70 the vocalist will perform over four-and-one-half months. - photo courtesy of Barb Paquin

Speaking from his cousin's driveway in Calgary, singer James Dundass said this is the best and cheapest way to realize his goal: playing 70 concerts in four-and-one-half months on his "Seeing the Invisible" tour.

He will visit every region of the country, save the Yukon and Nunavut, before the tour concludes in September, singing a mix of show tunes, popular songs and classical numbers.

"We've got four shows in a row, with a break on Saturday," he said of the current leg of the tour, which officially kicked off in Nanaimo, B.C. May 3.

Keeping up this sort of travelling schedule, in which Dundass hopes to raise $30,000 for the United Church, would be difficult for anyone, but particularly so for someone with a professional voice to maintain. However, Dundass seems to be up to the challenge. His 2004 tour saw him perform 18 times in 21 days throughout Ontario, part of a 60-date national tour that stopped in Yellowknife.

"I thought it would weaken me, but actually it made me stronger," he said of the feat.

The tour achieved its goal: raising money for Dundass to do an audition tour in Europe. However, Dundass said he didn't secure a full contract during his stops in Paris, Munich and Vienna.

"They said, 'you've got the tools, but you're not quite where we want you yet.'"

So Dundass is touring, in part to develop his unique voice, what he calls a "baritonal" tenor - something in high demand for certain classical pieces.

"It's like any athlete, the more you practice, the more you work out, the better you're going to be."

Accompanying Dundass on his tour are sibling pianists Igor and Serge Saika-Voivod, who will each serve on separate portions of the tour.

He said choosing an accompanist was difficult, as he needed someone who was good enough to tour for five months, but also young enough to spend that time in an RV.

"All three of us are very good at compromises," he said of how morale was holding up.

Like all of Dundass' shows on this and previous tours, the concert at Northern United Place will see half the funds go to the United Church. "I grew up with the United Church. I thought I could give something back," he said.

James Dundass performs at Northern United Place June 1 and June 2 at 7:30 p.m.