Interview with Anthony Kearns ahead of concert in Enniscorthy
KILTEALY TENOR ANTHONY KEARNS TALKS ABOUT HIS FORTHCOMING CONCERT IN ENNISCORTHY AND HOW WINNING A RADIO COMPETITION CHANGED HIS LIFE FOREVER
KILTEALY native Anthony Kearns will make a triumphant return to Wexford later this month when he performs at Enniscorthy Golf Club.
The world renowned tenor who now lives in Florida lived and worked in Wicklow, but his affection for the Garden County has never waned.
A native of Kiltealy, Co Wexford, now living in Florida, he has performed all over the world. From humble beginnings performing with local musical societies to headlining a show for Pope Francis, and packing out stadia across the USA with the Irish Tenors, nobody could ever accuse Anthony of letting fame go to his head.
The Wexford man is as grounded as ever and as his upcoming show at golf club on November 26 looms, he recalls how he was working in Wicklow just before his big break.
‘I studied hotel management after school and I worked in the Grand Hotel for about three years in the early ’90s. I enjoyed the work but for as long as I can remember I was always seeking to feed my hunger for music and singing. That is when I joined Wicklow Musical Society and the first show I did with them was ‘South Pacific’.’
Throughout his time working in the hospitality sector, Anthony constantly entered musical competitions, often winning them despite not having received any formal voice training.
‘At that time I was still trying to find my niche. I was singing everywhere I could, from pub talent shows to festivals. I competed in the Seabreeze Festival in Arklow a few times too. It was 1993 when I was in work I heard of yet another competition on the Gay Byrne radio show which was ‘Search for a Tenor’ to mark the launch of the new tenner note.
‘I made it through to the final on the phone and then hitched up from Arklow to perform live. I won it and it was through that competition that I met Veronica Dunne and everything changed,’ he said.
For Anthony, meeting the renowned vocal coach Veronica Dunne was a turning point. She took him under her wing and taught him how to use his powerful voice ‘properly’.
‘She didn’t need to ask me twice. I was hungry for it and eager to learn. After all, this is what I had been waiting for. It was my opportunity and I wasn’t going to waste it.’
The next few years saw Anthony focus on music as a career and a move to Wales, to cast his net wider in terms of experience.
In 1998 he received an invitation to audition for a new musical group, and went along.
‘ The producer Bill Hughes asked me to audition so off I went. Two weeks later he called me and his exact words were ‘Anthony Kearns, are you sitting down? Your life is about to change for the better!’
Anthony had won a place in The Irish Tenors, joining Ronan Tynan and Finbar Wright for a venture that nobody could have predicted would succeed so greatly.
‘Everyone knew about The Three Tenors, Pavarotti, Domingo and Carreras and they were a massive worldwide success. The idea for our group was to do it Irish-style. As a country we have such a vast catalogue of songs at our disposal.
‘Our first show was filmed in the RDS and went out in the USA coast to coast on PBS in 1999. From there, it was like a roller-coaster,’ Anthony said.
Soon after their USA debut, Anthony and his fellow tenors were in hot demand, so much so, that they had to split up to cover the public appearances and interviews sought by television networks in every state they were set to perform in.
‘It was crazy. I had never experienced anything like it. We were packing out 30,000 capacity stadia every night of the week, performed for presidents, in Madison Square Gardens – supported by none other than James Galway. For a young man of 27 years old, I was living the dream.’
Anthony is still living that dream and as The Irish Tenors, after 18 years, is very much still a working group, performing together at certain times every year, he also has time to take on solo and corporate projects.
‘I was doing so much travelling that I decided that I wanted to get somewhere to call home over here. In Orlando, I can fly home after a show to avoid living a large part of my life in hotels. I’m here four years now and it is going well. The Irish Tenors are still together and have a tour coming up next year.’
‘It is true what they say, that the USA is the land of opportunity. There is so much work here that there is always something to be busy with. It is wonderful.’
While Florida is his base, Anthony returns for at least one trip to Ireland every year, sometimes more.
On his trip home this month he will not only perform in Enniscorthy but also in Arklow. He has a strong affinity to the Garden County having worked there for a number of years prior to his big break.
‘I had already agreed to do the concert in Enniscorthy so I thought it would be great to put one on in Arklow as well. Wicklow and Arklow are places I still always visit when I am home as I have many good friends there.
‘ The wealth of talent in Arklow is astounding. It is second to none. Even back in the days when I lived there, there was such a diverse selection of bands and music groups.’
Anthony will appear in concert on Saturday, November 26, at the Enniscorthy Golf Club at 8pm.
He will be accompanied by pianist Patrick Healy and Anthony will also sing a number of songs with the Golf Club choir. There will be a mulled wine reception on arrival. After the concert musical entertainment will be by Keith and Dougie and there is a free shuttle bus into Enniscorthy town centre.
Tickets priced €30 are now on sale in the office and bar and are available to members and the general public.