Louisville man performs before Papal Mass

PHILADELPHIA, PA (WAVE) - A Louisville man was on stage playing the piano prior to the Papal Mass Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia, accompanying Irish singer Anthony Kearns for four songs.

"It was never on a bucket list," David George said. "How could this happen?" George is a member of the music faculty at Bellarmine University and a staff pianist at the University of Louisville.

He says he just found out about a week ago that he would be performing during the huge event which is expected to have the largest crowd of Pope Francis' historic six-day visit.

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"I usually don't get very nervous for performances," he laughed. "But little fluttering right now."

George met Kearns, one of the original member of the Irish Tenors, at an event in Louisville a couple of years ago.

"I said I need a pair of steady hands," Kearns said on why he chose George. "Someone that's calm as back up behind me, should anything go wrong."

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Kearns has performed all over the world and for presidents of the United States, but says this event is truly overwhelming.

"Get beyond the performance. And then take it in. What have I just done," he said. "That's when it will hit. The shakes will happen."

Kearns and George performed four songs: "How Great Thou Art," "Shelter Me," "You Raise Me Up," and "Amazing Grace."

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