Irish Tenor Ronan Tynan to Keynote Providence Mount St. Vincent Legacy Luncheon
Submitted by: Flash Media Services
2010-09-11 00:01:21
Seattle, WA (OPENPRESS) September 11, 2010 -- Providence Mount St. Vincent Foundation is pleased to announce that Irish Tenor and acclaimed speaker Dr. Ronan Tynan will once again be the featured speaker at its annual Legacy Community Luncheon fundraiser to be held Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010.
Tynan, who drew a record crowd to last year's luncheon, has had a distinguished career as a member of the Irish Tenors, a Paralympics athlete, and a physician. Born in Dublin, Ireland, Tynan is most famous for his renditions of "God Bless America" at Yankee Stadium during important New York Yankee games and his occasional performances for the National Hockey League's Buffalo Sabres.
He has also sung at Belmont Stakes and performed "Amazing Grace" and "Ave Maria" at the Washington National Cathedral for the late President Ronald Reagan's state funeral.
This year Tynan will be accompanied by William "Billy" Lewis, a multi-talented singer and pianist. The pair - who together recorded the CD "Ronan & Billy, Live!" - will entertain with song and stories. Tynan will speak about caring for his aging parents, including his mother as she progressed through the stages of Alzheimer's disease. His message is especially fitting a benefit for Providence Mount St. Vincent because it is similar to what many of the families and residents of the Seattle assisted living, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation home face.
The Legacy Community Luncheon is an annual event to raise funds to support the residents and programs of Providence Mount St. Vincent and to honor the contributions of its top donors. The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 13 at The Westin Seattle, 1900 Fifth Ave. Admission is $50 (attendees will be asked to make an additional donation at the event). For tickets and more information, contact Susan Clark at 206-938-6242 or e-mail legacyluncheon@providence.org.
Born with lower limb disabilities, Tynan elected to have both legs amputated at age 20 due to complications caused by a car accident. Within weeks of the accident, he was climbing stairs at his college dormitory on artificial legs. Within a year, Tynan was winning international track and field competitions. He represented Ireland in the 1984 and 1988 Summer Paralympics, winning four gold, two silver, and one bronze medal. Between 1981 and 1984, he amassed 18 gold medals and 14 world records. In 1993 Tynan graduated from Trinity College in Dublin as a physician specializing in orthopedic sports injuries.
A devout Roman Catholic, Tynan has appeared on Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) and at the invitation of New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan sang at the Archbishop's installation Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral on April 15, 2009. More information about Tynan can be found at www.ronantynan.net.
About Providence Mount St. Vincent:
Providence Mount St. Vincent (The Mount) is a vibrant senior living community in Seattle. Nationally recognized as a leader in resident-directed care, The Mount offers assisted living apartments, skilled nursing in a neighborhood setting, rehabilitation and sub-acute care, as well as an adult day health program and wellness clinic. The Mount also is home to a day care center for preschool age children and features many intergenerational activities for seniors and children. The Mount's philosophy honors the physical, social and spiritual needs of its residents and program participants. Last year the Providence Mount St. Vincent Foundation raised more than $1 million in support of the residents and programs of The Mount. Providence Mount St. Vincent, located in West Seattle was established in 1924 and is home to more than 400 elderly residents. Providence Mount St. Vincent is located at 4831 35th Ave SW. For more information go to www.providence.org/themount.
About Ronan Tynan:
Ronan Tynan is truly a modern day "Renaissance Man." Faced with numerous challenges throughout his life, he has persevered with enormous passion and determination. He attributes his success to his faith and the knowledge that the Man Above guides him through every door he opens. Introduced to international audiences as a member of the Irish Tenors, Tynan quickly became known for his unique voice and irresistible appeal. Following his mother's advice to always follow your dreams, Tynan launched a solo career and has achieved the fame and adoration that could have existed only in the farthest reaches of his dreams.
Tynan's singing offered the gentlest consolation at the funeral of President Ronald Reagan in the 2004, when an international TV audience of more than 35 million heard him sing "Amazing Grace" and "Ave Maria" at the personal invitation of Nancy Reagan. Tynan is also famous for his performances of "God Bless America" at Yankee Stadium. In 2006 he started an affiliation with the Buffalo Sabres hockey team and has performed "God Bless America" at many of their games.
Tynan's ability to simultaneously console and inspire is well documented. In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the men and women of the New York Police Department and New York Fire Department and their families counted on Tynan's abiding concern and beautiful voice as he performed at benefits and memorial services for New York's Finest and Bravest.
Of course, there have been plenty of joyous moments in Tynan's career as well. In the spring of 2004, the Belmont Stakes got off to a rollicking start when Tynan - a passionate horseman - christened the race with a ringing rendition of "New York, New York." This is of particular interest marking the first time in Belmont's 30-year history that a singer was invited to perform live instead of playing the version recorded by Frank Sinatra. Tynan has performed for countless dignitaries worldwide including the wedding of New York's former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and the 80th birthday celebration of former President George H.W. Bush.
In the spring of 2005 Tynan released his self-titled debut album, which began a new era in his career. The album contains the heartfelt "Passing Through," which honors Tynan's mother, whose vibrant spirit was taken away by the long night of Alzheimer's disease. Tynan debuted #2 on Billboard's Classical Crossover Chart and was the 8th best-selling classical crossover album of 2005. It also reached #2 on the World Album Chart and peaked at #9 on the Contemporary Christian Chart. His career has also been well-documented with appearances on Primetime Live, Good Morning America, the Hour of Power, 700 Club, Fox & Friends, and many other national television shows.
Tynan sang at the White House Governors' Ball at the invitation of President and Mrs. Bush in February, 2007, and in 2008 returned to the White House to sing at the St. Patrick's Day Reception attended by members of the U.S. and Irish governments. He performed during the Concert of Hope prior to the Papal Mass at Yankee Stadium in April, 2008.
Though Tynan enjoyed singing as a boy, he did not seriously consider formal voice study until he was 33, when he was well into his residency as a physician. His quick success is a typical development in a life of extraordinary achievement. Born with lower limb disability that threatened to sideline him throughout his childhood, Tynan was still "as wild as a March hare" when he was a growing boy, riding horses and racing motorcycles. When he was 20, his legs had to be amputated below the knee after an auto accident caused serious complications. Just weeks after the operation, he was climbing up the steps of his college dorm, and within a year, he was winning gold medals in the Paralympics as a multitalented athlete. Between 1981 and 1984, Tynan amassed 18 gold medals and 14 world records, of which he still holds nine.
The determination instilled in Tynan by his parents soon propelled him to conquer a whole new field. Tynan became the first disabled person ever admitted to the National College of Physical Education. He later became a physician, specializing in orthopedic sports injuries, with a degree from Trinity College in Dublin.
Tynan won both the John McCormack Cup for Tenor Voice and the BBC talent show Go For It less than one year after beginning the study of voice. The following year, he won the International Operatic Singing Competition in Maumarde, France. He made his operatic debut as Pinkerton in Puccini's Madame Butterfly, and cut his teeth on the concert repertoire in performances of Verdi's Requiem, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Handel's Messiah, Rossini's Stabat Mater, and Puccini's Messa di Gloria. In 1998, Tynan joined Anthony Kearns and John McDermott (later Finbar Wright) as The Irish Tenors, an instant worldwide sensation. His autobiography Halfway Home was published in February, 2002. With accompanist William "Billy" Lewis, he recorded Ronan & Billy, Live.
[Information provided by Ronan Tynan, www.ronantynan.net.]
Contact:
Susan Clark
Providence Mount St. Vincent
(206) 938-6242
Susan.P.Clark@providence.org
