Tenor Anthony Kearns to Launch the Irish Season in Kansas City at Harrah's, 3/3

Tenor Anthony Kearns, the original founding member of the Irish musical trio, The Irish Tenors, will kick-off the St. Patrick's Day Season in Kansas City at a "Celebration of Fine Irish Spirits and Irish Music" at Harrah's North Kansas City on Saturday, March 3, 2012, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Mr. Kearns will perform at 6:45 p.m.

Award-winning journalist, Kathy Quinn of Fox 4, said, "Kansas City welcomes Ireland's leading tenor – Anthony Kearns –as we celebrate our Irish heritage in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day." Ms. Quinn is the evening's invited emcee.

Advance tickets purchased before February 22, 2012 will receive a pre-sale discount. After Feb. 22, tickets will be $35 for regular seating, $45 for preferred seating, and $50-$60 for VIP seating. Purchase online through Ticketmaster and Harrahs.com.

Bob Reeder, founder of the Irish Music Association (based in Independence, MO), will recognize Kearns in person as winner of the IMA's 2009 "Best Irish Tenor" Award. "Kansas City's Irish music community recognizes Anthony Kearns' immense talent. We look forward to giving him a warm welcome at his concert on Saturday, March 3rd," said Reeder.

"I'm pleased to return to Kansas City – a fantastic city with a thriving arts scene – to launch the Irish season," said Mr. Kearns. Mr. Kearns and his Irish Tenor colleagues burst on the scene in 1998 with the highly-acclaimed PBS special, The Irish Tenors. Since then, they have since recorded 5 PBS specials and 7 albums. Their 2001 PBS Special "Live from Ellis Island" topped the Billboard charts.

Mr. Kearns, who also was voted "Ireland's Best Living Tenor" in 2006 by listeners of Ireland's Lyric FM radio station, said he is "looking forward to performing at Harrah's with its glamorous décor and wonderful acoustics."

Harrah's North Kansas City and Kansas City's Union Station are partnering together for a rare evening of Irish song, featuring Mr. Kearns, and history experts Union Station's highly-acclaimed Titanic exhibit by Premier Exhibitions, "Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit." The exhibit opens on March 3rd and will showcase rare artifacts from the world's most famous shipwreck, totaling $10 billion.

Renowned experts Theresa Nelson and Lowell Lytle, in Kansas City for the Exhibit's Grand Opening, will be available to meet guests of the Irish-themed reception at Harrah's during a special presentation, "Remembering the Titanic," at the intermission and V.I.P. reception. Ticket holders will experience a unique opportunity to meet the experts and see first-hand rare artifacts from the shipwreck's traveling exhibit.

President and CEO of Union Station Kansas City, George Guastello II said, "I'm so pleased to have this partnership with one of Kansas City's finest hotels and casinos, Harrah's, for this wonderful event with Irish Tenor Anthony Kearns. I am also looking forward to hearing the Titanic experts speak at the event."

"Harrah's North Kansas City is thrilled to be working with Union Station and Anthony Kearns. We've heard amazing things about him and it's not often that we get an international solo artist of such caliber. The evening is truly going to be a magnificent night in one of Kansas City's finest venues," said Tom Cook, general manager of Harrah's North Kansas City.

"The RMS Titanic was a glorious ship built in Ireland with an Irish crew, who had her last port of call in Ireland on her way to New York. As the 100th anniversary of the Titanic tragedy draws near, we remember not what was lost but the ability of the human heart to triumph over all," said Kearns.

The special evening will start with Irish specialty drinks (cash bar) at 6:00 p.m., with Kearns' performance at approximately 6:45 p.m. Mr. Kearns will perform two sets, with a 20-minute intermission. In addition to regular tickets, concert-goers may also purchase tickets to meet Mr. Kearns and the Titanic experts in person at approx. 8 p.m.

The March 3rd event is supported by the Irish Music Association, the Kansas City St. Patrick's Day Parade, the Kansas City Irish Festival, Union Station Kansas City, and the University of Notre Dame Kansas City Alumni Chapter, among other groups. (A portion of the event proceeds will go to charity)

Mr. Kearns is a respected ambassador of Ireland to the world and has presented the music of his homeland across the globe. He frequently performs for charity concerts, on television, and has performed in many of the most prestigious venues in American, among them: Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, The Hollywood Bowl, and on the grounds of the Capitol on the Fourth of July and at the funeral of President Ronald W. Reagan. He and the Irish Tenors recently performed at a peace award ceremony for former Prime Minister Tony Blair hosted by former President Bill Clinton. He is a member of the GRAMMYs. www.anthonykearnsmusic.com

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