RAYMOND, Wash. – Sunday Afternoon Live will host Anthony Kearns of the internationally acclaimed trio The Irish Tenors in solo concert on the stage of the Raymond Theatre at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1. This special second concert was added because the Sunday, Nov. 2, concert is sold out. Call Sunday Afternoon Live at (360) 875-5831 to see if tickets are still available. Tickets cost $20.

Kearns was born in the village of Kiltealy in County Wexford, Ireland. He has been called the best living tenor in Ireland, and has the largest repertoire of traditional Irish music of any person performing today. With a satin-smooth voice, tremendous vocal range and technique, clarity and passion, he is equally at home singing standards, show tunes, light classical and opera.

Kearns’ musical gifts began to be noticed at age 4. The turning point in his career came in 1993 when he entered “Ireland’s Search for a Tenor” contest and won the competition. His was the only untrained voice competing. As a result, he began to study with Ireland’s leading voice teacher, Veronica Dunne, a contest judge who had insisted he receive the prize. He later worked with Patrick Healy, who is presently his accompanist, and was enrolled at The College of Music in Cardiff, Wales, when he received the Three Tenors’ call. He rapidly became a popular presence on the Irish music scene, and has performed in the United States at Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, Boston’s Fleet Pavilion, the Hollywood Bowl, and on the grounds of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. His solo performances contain dazzling arias, classics and a generous dose of “the Irish.” As his recognition and reputation have grown, he has gathered a following that travels hundreds – sometimes thousands – of miles to attend one of his concerts.

Kearns was once asked, “What do you do when you aren’t singing?” and he replied without hesitation, “When I’m not singin’, I sing. It’s what I do!”

In December, the SAL Board of Directors heard Kearns perform in Port Angeles, Wash. They worked with Lynnette Crouse, Northwest Representative for CMI Entertainment Inc. of New York, as well as pursuing grants and sponsors, in order to bring this world-renowned tenor to the Raymond Theatre. Their cause was helped considerably when they learned Kearns has a fondness for and actually likes to perform in small towns.

Sunday Afternoon Live offers special thanks to the L. V. and Stella Raymond Foundation, Raymond Federal Bank, Dr. and Mrs. Frank Hing, R&S Financial (piano) and The Dennis Company (sound and lights) for their generous sponsorship of this concert.

Raymond Theatre is located at 323-1/2 Third St.