The Connecticut Post - December 1, 2000
Celtic Tenors Sings at Fairfield Univ.
Entertainment
One
third of the Irish Tenors, John McDermott, will croon favorite melodies of the
Old Sod Saturday at Fairfield University.
The concert is a benefit for the University's Father John Conlisk Irish
Scholarship Fund.
McDermott, who has risen from an unknown to become a million-selling solo artist,
is a third of the dynamic public television and touring phenomenon, the Irish Tenors,
and a leading champion of veterans' causes in the United States.
In three years in the United States, McDermott has emerged as one of the leading
solo artists in Celtic and Irish music. Last year, he was awarded a recording
and distribution contract by EMI. Remembrance, a tribute to American
veterans, is his first original major label release in the United
States.
McDermott's performance highlights include dates with major Canadian and America
symphony orchestras, appearances in Saint Patrick's Day parades in New York City
and Chicago, a performance at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and
a performance at Normandy's Juno Beach as part of the 50th Anniversary D-Day
Ceremonies.
McDermott credits his father Peter, for his singing career. "It was
sort of an education as you go," he said of his singing. "I know
the tunes I liked and I can remember my dad's passion for everything from the
ancient airs of Scotland and Ireland to Johnny Mathis. Although dad didn't
elaborate much, I have all his references a s a starting point for my own research
and my repertoire."
The Father John Conlisk Irish Scholarship Fund benefits Irish graduate students
who would like the opportunity to study in the United States. The
recipients take advantage of Fairfield University's graduate programs in
business, education and nursing.