It was a performance that pianist David George called a lifetime honor and a career high, and he鈥檚 still reeling from it.
After all, it鈥檚 not every day you get to play for the pope.
George, an alum of UofL鈥檚 School of Music and longtime staff pianist for the school鈥檚 vocal department and clarinet studio, performed on stage Sept. 27 at the papal Mass in Philadelphia. Nearly one million people were estimated to have attended the last major event of Pope Francis鈥檚 five-day trip to the U.S.
鈥淚t was something I never thought would happen. Who would imagine playing for the pope? It was bigger than life. It was overwhelming,鈥 George said.
George was invited to accompany Anthony Kearns, a member of the famed Irish Tenors. Kearns, a devout Catholic, has performed for a number of dignitaries, including three U.S. presidents and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg as well as at President听Ronald Reagan鈥檚 funeral.
George met Kearns about two years ago, when he was asked to accompany the singer during The Bourbon Affair fundraiser at the Pendennis Club. Kearns was impressed and invited George to perform with him again on other occasions.
Kearns told that when he learned he was singing at such a huge and important event, he knew who to call.
“I said, ‘I need a pair of steady hands 鈥 someone who is calm as backup behind me should anything go wrong,'” Kearns said.
As it turns out, that inner-calm served George well, as the event was a bit hectic. There was no sound check and the show was compressed from five songs to three.
The stage was set up on Benjamin Franklin Parkway, near the Philadelphia Museum of Art of 鈥淩ocky鈥 movie fame, and there were throngs of people as far as the eye could see.
鈥淚 saw the crowd and still couldn鈥檛 take it in,鈥 George said. 鈥淚 had to see aerial photos to fully appreciate it.鈥
But once they got going, it was smooth sailing. They played 鈥淪helter Me,鈥 鈥淗ow Great Thou Art鈥 and 鈥淵ou Raise Me Up,鈥 songs meant to mentally and spiritually prepare the people for Mass.
鈥淚 had a little bit of the jitters, but once it starts, you鈥檙e in the music,鈥 George said. 鈥淚 was totally relaxed as I could be and it was just fun.鈥
George was standing just a few feet from the pope when he entered and was able to take close-range video.
Though he鈥檚 not a Catholic, George said he found the pope鈥檚 message moving.
鈥淭he whole event was very spiritual,鈥 he said.
And, he didn鈥檛 mind the rock-star treatment. His credentials allowed him access to areas closed to everyone else.
鈥淲e walked anywhere we needed to, right past all the barriers. It was a neat feeling,鈥 he said.
