Herehau Vero, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from France, is featured in a special worldwide musical event that was recorded in Salt Lake City in the United States. In June, he participated in the recording of this 60-minute concert that will be available for downloading and broadcast in August to youth all around the world.
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Herehau Vero, sings two solo pieces in the worldwide youth concert.2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.“I was blessed to be born into a family of singers and musicians. I sang with my grandparents when I was a child,” says Herehau, now age 21. When he was ten, he was sent alone from his birth home in Haiti to France to live with an aunt. Herehau had no one left to sing with. “I continued to sing on my own and tried to find my own musical way,” he said. A year later his parents and three younger siblings joined him in France.
Everything changed when Herehau auditioned to be one of the soloists for the cultural show at the dedication of the Paris Temple. After that, said Herehau, “I really started singing. Little by little, I gained confidence in myself (I’ve never had a vocal coach), and I started singing in the For the Strength of Youth CDs.”
While performing during the cultural event at the time of the Paris Temple dedication, Herehau realised that God gave him the gift of knowing how to sing. “From that moment, everything took off.” Knowing that his gift was from God motivated him to improve and share it. To improve his voice, he watched and sang along with vocal warm-ups on YouTube and he sometimes imitated great singers. “I still have a lot to learn to control my voice, but I trust my Heavenly Father gave me this gift for a reason. For me, singing is my way of proclaiming my beliefs to the whole world.”
Herehau enjoys music that expresses what a person feels deep inside, or how that person struggled through challenges. “I really like it when the author of a song writes his music by telling his own story.” When singing a song, Herehau tries to make the song his own, as if he had written it. “Then when I’m on stage or in the studio, I sing with all my heart! My goal is to always touch the hearts of the people who hear my singing.”
A friend suggested Herehau apply for the Youth Music Festival in Salt Lake City. He was amazed when he was selected to sing and represent France, along with other international participants. Herehau arrived in Salt Lake City in June to attend rehearsals in the Tabernacle. He was thrilled to see so many young singers, including some well-known youth musicians.
Sister Emily Belle Freeman, General Young Women President, and Young Men General President Steven J. Lund spoke to the participants before their rehearsals. Their words were inspiring for the musicians, encouraging them to use their voices for good.
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Herehau Vero rehearsing with musicians for the special youth broadcast.2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.In the concert, Herehau is the soloist for two French songs entitled “Disciple of Christ” and “My Only Hope,” followed by three other songs accompanied by other singers. He also gave the welcome introduction to the youth festival in French as one of the international hosts.
“It is my hope that I might be an instrument in God’s hands to touch the hearts of young people through this music,” says Herehau.
“Festival: A Youth Concert” will be available to watch on 5 August via the Church’s broadcast page and the Gospel Stream app in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.
Youth around the world are invited to be a part of this festival—through planning local celebrations, downloading the playlist, watching the concert and singing along with the music.