Famous Irish tenor bringing concert, sing-along to Middletown parish
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Carly York | Correspondent
St. Mary Parish, Middletown, will be receiving an Irish blessing March 21 when Emmet Cahill, tenor from the famed Celtic Thunder production, visits the church to perform live in concert.
Both the parish’s adult and children choirs will join in the concert, which will begin at 7:30 p.m., and a portion of the proceeds will support the parish music program.
After attending a concert last summer in which Cahill performed, Jessica Kortenhaus, parish music director, had the idea to bring Cahill to the area.
“I was blown away,” Kortenhaus said. “Right then and there I talked to him about coming to St. Mary’s.”
Cahill, who at a very young age began singing and playing piano in his native Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland, began touring with the Irish music group in 2011, appearing in several PBS specials including the newest one, “X,” which celebrates 10 years of Celtic Thunder. “X” will air on PBS throughout March.
As a soloist, Cahill has also toured the globe. He was named “Irish Tenor of the Year” in 2013 by the Irish-American Music Association, and he will be making his Carnegie Hall debut March 16 in New York in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
For the show in St. Mary’s Church, Cahill’s program will feature classic Irish folk songs from his solo album, “Emmet Cahill’s Ireland,” as well as hymns such as “Be Thou My Vision” and “How Great Thou Art.” He will also feature Broadway favorites from “Les Misérables” and “Phantom of the Opera.”
“One of my all-time favorite songs to sing is ‘Danny Boy,’ and audiences love it. I don’t think they would actually let me get away without singing it!” Cahill said.
Seamus Brett, Celtic Thunder’s assistant music director, will accompany Cahill on the piano. “Between the two of us, we put out a lot of sound,” said Cahill, who also plays the guitar.
The concert will be a relaxed and intimate evening where the audience can engage with Cahill.
“One of my favorite parts of the concert is the request section,” he said. “We let the audience shout out their favorite songs to be sung, and we string them together in a fun medley.”
“We love it when the audience sings along,” he added. “Anyone coming to the concert should warm up their voices and be ready to join in.”
Tickets may be purchased online at www.emmetcahill.com/tour-dates/, at the church or at the door the night of the show. General admission tickets are $30; Meet-and-greet tickets are $45, which include meeting Cahill before the show.
Doors open at 6:45 p.m. for general admission and 6 p.m. for meet-and-greet ticketholders. For more information, contact the parish at
732-671-0071.
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By Carly York | Correspondent
St. Mary Parish, Middletown, will be receiving an Irish blessing March 21 when Emmet Cahill, tenor from the famed Celtic Thunder production, visits the church to perform live in concert.
Both the parish’s adult and children choirs will join in the concert, which will begin at 7:30 p.m., and a portion of the proceeds will support the parish music program.
After attending a concert last summer in which Cahill performed, Jessica Kortenhaus, parish music director, had the idea to bring Cahill to the area.
“I was blown away,” Kortenhaus said. “Right then and there I talked to him about coming to St. Mary’s.”
Cahill, who at a very young age began singing and playing piano in his native Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland, began touring with the Irish music group in 2011, appearing in several PBS specials including the newest one, “X,” which celebrates 10 years of Celtic Thunder. “X” will air on PBS throughout March.
As a soloist, Cahill has also toured the globe. He was named “Irish Tenor of the Year” in 2013 by the Irish-American Music Association, and he will be making his Carnegie Hall debut March 16 in New York in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
For the show in St. Mary’s Church, Cahill’s program will feature classic Irish folk songs from his solo album, “Emmet Cahill’s Ireland,” as well as hymns such as “Be Thou My Vision” and “How Great Thou Art.” He will also feature Broadway favorites from “Les Misérables” and “Phantom of the Opera.”
“One of my all-time favorite songs to sing is ‘Danny Boy,’ and audiences love it. I don’t think they would actually let me get away without singing it!” Cahill said.
Seamus Brett, Celtic Thunder’s assistant music director, will accompany Cahill on the piano. “Between the two of us, we put out a lot of sound,” said Cahill, who also plays the guitar.
The concert will be a relaxed and intimate evening where the audience can engage with Cahill.
“One of my favorite parts of the concert is the request section,” he said. “We let the audience shout out their favorite songs to be sung, and we string them together in a fun medley.”
“We love it when the audience sings along,” he added. “Anyone coming to the concert should warm up their voices and be ready to join in.”
Tickets may be purchased online at www.emmetcahill.com/tour-dates/, at the church or at the door the night of the show. General admission tickets are $30; Meet-and-greet tickets are $45, which include meeting Cahill before the show.
Doors open at 6:45 p.m. for general admission and 6 p.m. for meet-and-greet ticketholders. For more information, contact the parish at
732-671-0071.
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