Irish Tenor Anthony Kearns Performs at St. Laurence Church New Bedford, 4/28

April 28, 2013, just weeks after a performance for President Obama and Irish Prime Ministger Kenny at the Capitol in Washington D.C., Anthony Kearns, founding member of The Irish Tenors, will sing at St. Lawrence Martyr Church in New Bedford.

Said Kearns: "What a special time for me, to have the honor to sing for President Obama and Ireland's Taoiseach, Prime Minister Kenny, at one event! I was proud to have the opportunity to present the music of Ireland to that distinguished audience." The performance was at the Friends of Ireland Luncheon, and Kearns appearance was at the request of Speaker of the House John Boehner.

April 28th is Anthony's first appearance in New Bedford. "I'm looking forward to singing in the beautiful St. Lawrence Martyr Church. I've often been in Boston and surrounds, and will enjoy seeing New Bedford."

Kearns, who hails from County Wexford in Ireland, and still bases in Dublin, has been touring with The Irish Tenors for well over a decade; this enduring trio has reached near rock star status as one of Ireland's most popular touring groups, second only to U2. Anthony also has a thriving solo concert career, and has appeared in many operas internationally in coveted lead-tenor roles, garnering consistently high praise. Quoted the British magazine Opera Now of his performance in Ireland as Don Ottavio in Lismore Opera's production of Don Giovanni, "Kearns's beautifully spun Il mio tesoro was a moment of still beauty." After Kearns's portrayal of the lead in a Florida production of Faust, Staffanie Pearce, Opera Naples [FL] founder and artistic director said, "Voices like this don't come along very often; it is a voice-of-the-century voice."
Just one year ago, Kearns appeared at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston at an event celebrating the Kennedy family's Irish Roots. "That was special for me," he said. "Being from County Wexford, where the Kennedy's hail from, it was especially meaningful to have been asked to perform for that event."
In January of this year, Kearns was involved in the U.S. Inaugural weekend celebrations. He was invited by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dempsey (who sang a number with Anthony) to perform at a brunch for Medal of Honor recipients, performed at the inaugural ball hosted by Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, and was then invited to attend the actual swearing-in ceremony as an honored VIP guest. Commented Kearns, "It was a great experience to be involved in the Inaugural events; I was honored to be there."
Carrying on the tradition of one of Ireland's most famous tenors, John McCormack, Kearns's solo repertoire runs the spectrum brilliantly from Ireland to Broadway, from Classical to Sacred, and includes some of the world's best loved songs.
Anthony brings his longtime accompanist, fellow Irishman Patrick Healy, with whom he has toured for 14 years. "Patrick is a gem," said Kearns, "He's the real deal. He plays piano brilliantly, he sings, he writes songs, and he tells jokes with the best of them!"
Anthony Kearns will perform at St. Lawrence Martyr Church, 110 Summer Street, New Bedford, on Sunday, April 28, 2013. Tickets are available at 508.525.0660.

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