Medina nearing sell out for famed tenor

Ronan Tynan will perform at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Sept. 17

Ronan Tynan

MEDINA – The Orleans Renaissance Group decided to “reach for the stars” by inviting famed tenor Ronan Tynan to Medina. Tynan will perform at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Sept. 17.

The concert is nearing a sellout with 93 tickets left out of about 650. Some of the concert-goers are coming from out of state, travelling from Massachusetts, Ohio and California to see Tynan, said Chris Busch, president of the ORG.

The group has been high-profile in recent years for its push to revive the Bent’s Opera House on Main Street. The ORG last year also started running a farmers’ market on Saturday in the downtown.

Busch said ORG’s original mission was to bring high-caliber cultural events to Medina. In 2013, the acclaimed group, Anonymous Four, performed in Medina at a concert organized by the Renaissance Group.

“Every couple years we try to do something world class,” Busch said. “We were trying to brainstorm our next move to bring in a world class event.”

Tim Cooper, a local funeral home owner, suggested welcoming Tynan, an Irish tenor who also is a recording artist, physician and champion disabled athlete.

The concert will be at a church that was largely built by the Irish community in the early 1900s. Tynan has sung at the funeral for Ronald Reagan, during the World Series at Yankee Stadium and many concert halls across the United States and internationally.

Busch said St. Mary’s is ideal for a concert with a powerful and majestic voice.

“I’m sure it will be spectacular,” Busch said. “It’s a very live acoustic environment. For a voice like his it will be spectacular.”

A Sony recording artist, Tynan has released more than 10 titles, 4 of which have achieved platinum status. Additionally, between 1981 and 1984, Tynan amassed 18 gold medals and 14 world records while participating in the Paralympics. Nine of his records still stand.

Tynan has performed for four U.S. Presidents including George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Tynan has sung for two Popes, Pope John Paul II at St. Peter’s Basilica and Pope Benedict at the Concert of Hope.

For more on the Renaissance Group, visit www.bentshall.org.