FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Jacques’ message for the anti-Bullying campaign is a simple one of refusal to submit to intolerance.

“Never let anyone define you or label you. Never be bullied into silence. Never be afraid to tell the truth, but to believe in yourself and be yourself. Remember, ‘Bullying is Smoke… Courage is Fire’.”

For as long as he can remember, South African Jacques Snyman has been pursuing two very different family passions; rugby and opera singing. Jacques’ grandfather was an Olympic athlete and rugby champion; his grandmother sang opera. Like many boys in South Africa, Jacques received his first rugby ball as a toddler.

He also started singing in family concerts at a young age. Throughout school, he was a decorated athlete in rugby and track and field and he also took home trophies for his singing. “It wasn’t unusual for me to run off the rugby pitch with a bloody nose and scraped knees and head right to the stage to compete in vocal competitions,” remembers Snyman. “And if anybody made fun of me for it, I’d just say ‘see you on the pitch.’

Snyman has played on rugby teams in South Africa and England and he helped to found the first gay rugby team.

He went on to compete in the Bingham Cup (created in honor of United Flight 93′s Mark Bingham, who died 10 years ago during the Sept. 11th attacks.)  Jacques also has won gold medals in track and field events at the gay games, including the decathlon.

Snyman’s work as a counter-tenor took off in 2010 when he began studying in London with Brian Parsons at the Guildhall School for Opera. Since then, he has performed throughout Britain. The event on Monday is more than a  concert; ‘it is a chance for Jacques to help kids who have been bullied and abused, as part of the “it gets better campaign.” Jacques knows first-hand the pain of abuse and he has vowed to use the gift of his voice to help children in need.

Jacques currently resides in Fort Lauderdale and is preparing for a nation-wide tour.

Jacques will performing a charity concert sponsored by Sunserve and the Sunshine Cathedral, the funds from this program go to support the SunServe Teen Program.

Jacques performance is on Monday, July 18 at 7:30PM.

Admission is free, but an offering will be received to benefit SunServe.

To learn more about this program, contact Jacques Snyman online at   www.SunshinePerformingArts.com.