World-class tenor singing Saturday at PAC

By Jack Kintner

Just two weeks after performing for former British Prime Minister Tony Blair at Dublin Castle, Irish tenor Anthony Kearns will perform in the Blaine School District’s Performing Arts Center Saturday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m. The 37-year-old native of Ireland performs solo concerts as well as with a trio known as the Irish Tenors. Kearns has a high lyric tenor voice and sings Irish ballads with astonishing power. The concert promises to be well-attended so those without tickets should come a little early, according to the Pacific Arts Association’s Glenn Tuski.

Kearns, 36, was born in Kiltealy, County Wexford, and now lives in Dublin. His superb voice gives him the ability to sing a tricky but beloved kind of traditional Irish singing called Sean Nós, Gaelic for Old Style. Sean Nós airs are often called “shut eye songs” because it is not so much the narrative but the emotion of the song which the singer tries to impart, to create a mystical experience between a singer and his music.

Kearns is accompanied by composer and arranger Patrick Healy. Both will be available at a post-concert reception to be held at the Blackberry House as a fund raiser for the Pacific Arts Association. Cost is an additional $30 and attendance is limited to 30 people. Tickets for the reception will be available at the concert.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $25 for reserved seats and $10 for seniors and students. Tuski said that he will open up the overflow section at the back of the auditorium for a special price of $15 per seat for everyone.

Remaining tickets are available at the door, on line at www.PacificArtsAssoc.org or by phone at Pacific Building Supply, 360/332-5335, for credit card orders.