Finbar Wright Biog

Finbar Wright, known as "Ireland's Great Romantic Singer", grew up on a small farm in Ballinspittle, just yards from the sea. He began his music education on piano at the age of five. Wright also studied for the priesthood, heading off to board at Cork's Farranferris College at 11. He was ordained in 1980. At 22, he was the youngest priest in the world; his ordination required a special dispensation from the Vatican.
He was even familiar to Pope John Paul II, as he had been selected to read the Gospel and sing the responsories at the Pope's Mass at Phoenix Park, Dublin, in September 1979. The first Mass of a reigning Pontiff in Ireland, the event was attended by 1.25 million people, at that time a third of the entire population of Ireland.

Wright's first formal training in music came in the mid-'70s, in Spain. Heavily influenced by Spanish music,he was invited to perform in 1995 in Dublin with the great Spanish soprano, Montserrat Caballe. Ultimately, Wright left the priesthood and devoted himself to music. He attended the Cork School of Music where he studied singing with Robert Beare, theory of music with George Dunne and piano with Angel Climent. Subsequently he studied with Ernst Haefligger in Munich and internationally acclaimed soprano Ileana Cotrubas at Aldeburgh, England. However, the greatest influence on his vocal technique and musical confidence has been that of Dr. Veronica Dunne in Dublin with whom he continues to study whenever possible.
His position was assured with his nomination as Ireland's representative to the Cardiff (now BBC) Singer of the World Competition (like Kearns, Wright had been a champion at the Dublin Feis Ceoil, winning all the major singing awards).
His six solo recordings have, all, reached gold status with four going platinum. His 1992 disc, "Whatever You Believe", rose to #1 and was deemed triple platinum in Ireland. Twice winner of "Ireland's Best Male Performer" Award, he has also hosted his own television series for RTE. With only 10 days notice, Finbar Wright joined The Irish Tenors when John McDermott left the group in 2000.