Anthony Kearns
Encyclopedia
Anthony Kearns is a founding member of the Irish Tenors
, along with Ronan Tynan
and John McDermott
.
and various other instruments common in Trad music. He attended F.C.J. Secondary School Bunclody singing at their masses and school shows, then studied catering and hotel management, while singing in local musical productions.
He achieved success at the age of 22 in 1993 after entering a national radio competition "Ireland's Search for a Tenor" on the Gay Byrne program. This was run to celebrate the issuing of a new ten pound note (called a "tenner.") The only competitor not to have had formal training, he won the event, singing The Impossible Dream
and Danny Boy
on a city street in Dublin. One of his prizes was an appearance on Gay Byrne's Late Late Show on TV. After winning the competition, he began training with the renowned Irish opera singer and vocal coach, Veronica Dunne, who had been a judge on the show. Kearns then relinquished his various day jobs to pursue a full-time career in music. The prize for Best Male Singer during all Veronica Dunne International Singing Competitionshttp://www.vdiscompetition.com/index.html/ is now presented in Anthony’s name.
Anthony's career took a leap in 1998 when Irish Producer Bill Hughes and PBS joined forces to begin The Irish Tenors.http://www.theirishtenors.com/ His exceptional collaborative work with the Irish Tenors has netted Gold, Platinum, and Double Platinum CD recognition.
Anthony teamed up with Bill Hughes again for a PBS project called Hallelujah Broadway, filmed in Prague in February of 2010.http://hallelujahbroadway.com/ Hallelujah Broadway has since been seen in Ireland and the U.S. Halleljah Broadway concerts have been presented in various cities in the U.S. as well.
While studying with Dr. Dunne, Kearns continued competing in and winning talent competitions, twice winning the prestigious Dermot Troy Trophy for oratorio, as well as Best Male Singer at the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera, and Best Irish Singer at the 1999 ESB Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition.
Anthony was recognized in 2010 by the Irish Music Association as the Best Irish Tenor in the US, UK, and European Union. He is also a voting member of The Grammy's.
In the U.S. Kearns has performed the roles of Romeo, as well as Edgardo (Lucia di Lammermoor) for Opera Naples [FL]. Steffanie Pearce, Opera Naples Founder and Artistic Director, is quoted: "This is a voice-of-the-century voice!" Anthony sang Alfred in Die Fledermaus in Colorado during the summer of 2011. He will reprise his role of Faust for Opera Naples early in 2012.
To read Anthony's complete and official opera biography use this link. http://www.anthonykearns.net/KearnsOfficialOperaBio.html/
Read other professional quotes and reviews of Anthony Kearns performances here.http://www.anthonykearns.net/quotes.html/
Anthony works tirelessly for many causes world-wide including countless benefit concerts in the U.S. and Ireland to raise funds for Education and Christian organizations. Among others, he has lent his name and talent to Autism Awarenesshttp://www.wexford.org/Benefit_concerts.html and works with many organizations who honor and assist U.S. troops.
herehttp://www.anthonykearns.net/YouTubePage2.html/.
Read of Anthony's charity workhttp://www.anthonykearns.net/CharityWork2.html/ and noteable events.http://www.anthonykearns.net/SpecEv2.html/
Anthony Kearns draws from an immense and varied repertoire which includes Irish, http://www.anthonykearns.net/irishrepertoire2.html/ Classical, http://www.anthonykearns.net/classicalrep2.html/ and what he fondly calls
songs of a golden age.http://www.anthonykearns.net/contemp2.html/
Listen to or view dozens of interviews with Anthony Kearns from all over the world here. http://www.anthonykearns.net/audiovideoindex2.html/
Read archived print articles and interviews with Anthony Kearns down through the years here. http://www.anthonykearns.net/articlesindex2.html/
were brought together for a concert at the Royal Dublin Society
in 1998. The concert was broadcast on the American Public Broadcasting Service
(PBS) in 1999 and the group found itself in huge demand for concerts across the Atlantic. After the first year of international prominence, McDermott left the group to pursue solo opportunities. He was replaced by Finbar Wright
, who has remained with the group. In 2006 Ronan Tynan
left and was replaced by another Irish tenor Karl Scully
; Tynan returned to the fold in 2010. The Irish Tenors, with Anthony Kearns as the only Tenor to stay with the group from its inception, continues to tour and record; each member also continues with solo projects. Anthony Kearns' music with the Irish Tenors can be found here http://store.anthonykearnsmusic.com/
Anthony's most current and authorized information including his accurate touring schedule, current media, audios & videos, can always be accessed on his official website at http://www.anthonykearns.net.
The Irish Tenors current schedule can be accessed on their website at http://www.theirishtenors.com/tour.html
For news and information about Anthony Kearns, including latest YouTube videos, visit: http://www.anthonykearnsmusic.com
Irish Tenors
The Irish Tenors is the PBS musical singing trio from Ireland started in 1998 by a group of television producers for a of PBS special The Irish Tenors. They have since recorded 5 PBS specials and 7 albums...
, along with Ronan Tynan
Ronan Tynan
Ronan Tynan is a singer in the classical Irish style. He is most famous for his renditions of "God Bless America" at Yankee Stadium during important New York Yankees games, such as Opening Day, nationally-televised games, the last game at the old Yankee Stadium, and playoff games...
and John McDermott
John McDermott (singer)
John Charles McDermott is a Scottish-Canadian tenor best known for his rendering of the song "Danny Boy". Born in Glasgow, Scotland, John moved with his family to Willowdale, Ontario, Canada in 1965. Growing up in a musical family, his only formal musical training was at St...
.
Early career
Anthony Kearns is one of six children in a musical family, whose interest in music came at a very early age. He began singing traditional Irish songs with his family, and is a self-taught musician, learning the button accordionAccordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
and various other instruments common in Trad music. He attended F.C.J. Secondary School Bunclody singing at their masses and school shows, then studied catering and hotel management, while singing in local musical productions.
He achieved success at the age of 22 in 1993 after entering a national radio competition "Ireland's Search for a Tenor" on the Gay Byrne program. This was run to celebrate the issuing of a new ten pound note (called a "tenner.") The only competitor not to have had formal training, he won the event, singing The Impossible Dream
The Impossible Dream (The Quest)
"The Impossible Dream " is a popular song composed by Mitch Leigh, with lyrics written by Joe Darion. It was written for the 1965 musical Man of La Mancha...
and Danny Boy
Danny Boy
-Background:The words to "Danny Boy" were written by English lawyer and lyricist Frederic Weatherly in 1910. Although the lyrics were originally written for a different tune, Weatherly modified them to fit the "Londonderry Air" in 1913, after his sister-in-law in the U.S. sent him a copy. Ernestine...
on a city street in Dublin. One of his prizes was an appearance on Gay Byrne's Late Late Show on TV. After winning the competition, he began training with the renowned Irish opera singer and vocal coach, Veronica Dunne, who had been a judge on the show. Kearns then relinquished his various day jobs to pursue a full-time career in music. The prize for Best Male Singer during all Veronica Dunne International Singing Competitionshttp://www.vdiscompetition.com/index.html/ is now presented in Anthony’s name.
Anthony's career took a leap in 1998 when Irish Producer Bill Hughes and PBS joined forces to begin The Irish Tenors.http://www.theirishtenors.com/ His exceptional collaborative work with the Irish Tenors has netted Gold, Platinum, and Double Platinum CD recognition.
Anthony teamed up with Bill Hughes again for a PBS project called Hallelujah Broadway, filmed in Prague in February of 2010.http://hallelujahbroadway.com/ Hallelujah Broadway has since been seen in Ireland and the U.S. Halleljah Broadway concerts have been presented in various cities in the U.S. as well.
Professional Recognition
As a youth, Anthony entered and won countless "All Ireland" singing competitions such as Ceol an Geimhridh, Feis Ceoils, Readoiri, Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann, placing and winning often.While studying with Dr. Dunne, Kearns continued competing in and winning talent competitions, twice winning the prestigious Dermot Troy Trophy for oratorio, as well as Best Male Singer at the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera, and Best Irish Singer at the 1999 ESB Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition.
Anthony was recognized in 2010 by the Irish Music Association as the Best Irish Tenor in the US, UK, and European Union. He is also a voting member of The Grammy's.
Opera and Current Projects
Anthony is rapidly making his name in the world of opera, a genre for which he has a great passion. His opera credits include: Fenton in an Italian production of Falstaff, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi and the title role in Faust for Opera Ireland. The Irish Times said of his performance: "Kearns gets around the notes of Faust quite well. His subtle tonal shading and judicious use of well-supported head voice complements an exciting top register." Kearns also performed Carmen's Don Jose for Ireland's Glasthule Opera. The Irish Times wrote: "Anthony Kearns proved a top-notch Don José, rising to each decisive moment with quality to spare." Anthony performed Don Ottavio in a Lismore Music Festival production of Don Giovanni in June 2011 in Ireland. The British magazine "Opera Now" is quoted: "Anthony Kearns's beautifully spun Il Mio Tesoro was a moment of still beauty in the turmoil."In the U.S. Kearns has performed the roles of Romeo, as well as Edgardo (Lucia di Lammermoor) for Opera Naples [FL]. Steffanie Pearce, Opera Naples Founder and Artistic Director, is quoted: "This is a voice-of-the-century voice!" Anthony sang Alfred in Die Fledermaus in Colorado during the summer of 2011. He will reprise his role of Faust for Opera Naples early in 2012.
To read Anthony's complete and official opera biography use this link. http://www.anthonykearns.net/KearnsOfficialOperaBio.html/
Read other professional quotes and reviews of Anthony Kearns performances here.http://www.anthonykearns.net/quotes.html/
Anthony works tirelessly for many causes world-wide including countless benefit concerts in the U.S. and Ireland to raise funds for Education and Christian organizations. Among others, he has lent his name and talent to Autism Awarenesshttp://www.wexford.org/Benefit_concerts.html and works with many organizations who honor and assist U.S. troops.
Learn More
You may view several youtube videos of Anthony's performancesherehttp://www.anthonykearns.net/YouTubePage2.html/.
Read of Anthony's charity workhttp://www.anthonykearns.net/CharityWork2.html/ and noteable events.http://www.anthonykearns.net/SpecEv2.html/
Anthony Kearns draws from an immense and varied repertoire which includes Irish, http://www.anthonykearns.net/irishrepertoire2.html/ Classical, http://www.anthonykearns.net/classicalrep2.html/ and what he fondly calls
songs of a golden age.http://www.anthonykearns.net/contemp2.html/
Listen to or view dozens of interviews with Anthony Kearns from all over the world here. http://www.anthonykearns.net/audiovideoindex2.html/
Read archived print articles and interviews with Anthony Kearns down through the years here. http://www.anthonykearns.net/articlesindex2.html/
Irish Tenors
Kearns, Tynan and John McDermottJohn McDermott (singer)
John Charles McDermott is a Scottish-Canadian tenor best known for his rendering of the song "Danny Boy". Born in Glasgow, Scotland, John moved with his family to Willowdale, Ontario, Canada in 1965. Growing up in a musical family, his only formal musical training was at St...
were brought together for a concert at the Royal Dublin Society
Royal Dublin Society
The Royal Dublin Society was founded on 25 June 1731 to "to promote and develop agriculture, arts, industry, and science in Ireland". The RDS is synonymous with its main premises in Ballsbridge in Dublin, Ireland...
in 1998. The concert was broadcast on the American Public Broadcasting Service
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
(PBS) in 1999 and the group found itself in huge demand for concerts across the Atlantic. After the first year of international prominence, McDermott left the group to pursue solo opportunities. He was replaced by Finbar Wright
Finbar Wright
Edward Finbar Wright , known popularly as Finbar Wright, is a popular music singer, songwriter, poet from County Cork, Ireland....
, who has remained with the group. In 2006 Ronan Tynan
Ronan Tynan
Ronan Tynan is a singer in the classical Irish style. He is most famous for his renditions of "God Bless America" at Yankee Stadium during important New York Yankees games, such as Opening Day, nationally-televised games, the last game at the old Yankee Stadium, and playoff games...
left and was replaced by another Irish tenor Karl Scully
Karl scully
Karl Scully kicked started his career in 2000 by co-starring alongside Ewan Mcgregor in the blockbuster hit ‘Nora,’ and later admitted to giving the star ‘a few singing lessons.’...
; Tynan returned to the fold in 2010. The Irish Tenors, with Anthony Kearns as the only Tenor to stay with the group from its inception, continues to tour and record; each member also continues with solo projects. Anthony Kearns' music with the Irish Tenors can be found here http://store.anthonykearnsmusic.com/
External links
- Anthony Kearns official website
- http://anthonykearns.net/
- http://wexford.org/Benefit_concerts.html
- http://www.cmientertainment.com/Kearns.html
- http://www.operanaples.org/2010_2011_shows/at_lucia_jan2011_review1.html
- http://www.anthonykearnsmusic.com/
- http://anthonykearns.com/
Anthony's most current and authorized information including his accurate touring schedule, current media, audios & videos, can always be accessed on his official website at http://www.anthonykearns.net.
The Irish Tenors current schedule can be accessed on their website at http://www.theirishtenors.com/tour.html
For news and information about Anthony Kearns, including latest YouTube videos, visit: http://www.anthonykearnsmusic.com