(OSV News) — We’ve hit the time of year when so much of the world moves fast.

Shopping, cooking, eating, playing, praying, singing, and probably some crying, too. And that doesn’t even include the international heartache of war and other violence in the world.

That’s part of the reason Andy Cooney, leader of the New York Tenors, believes people go out of their way to enjoy Christmas music.

“People want to be happy,” Cooney said in a telephone interview with The Dialog, Wilmington’s diocesan news outlet. He spoke while he was getting ready to leave for Florida for a full week of “The Magic of Christmas with the New York Tenors.” “And our show, it’s a happy show. People come out of there feeling good. That’s really what we try to bring.”

Once dubbed “Irish America’s favorite son” by a writer from The New York Times, Cooney is one of three singers who fired up the Christmas classics on December 13 at St. Mark’s High School in Wilmington. He has been performing for more than 20 years and is a big hit on the Irish music circuit.

Fourth appearance in Wilmington

Cooney and his partners, Daniel Rodriguez and Christopher Macchio, made their fourth appearance in the Diocese of Wilmington in support of the programs and ministries of the local Catholic Charities.

The tenors change up the shows each year but stick with many of the most popular favorites. They also have a new twist, adding comedian Chris Monty as part of the show.

“He’s hilarious,” Cooney said. “I know everybody’s going to love him.”

Cooney has been familiar with Delaware, having performed for the New Castle County Irish Society. “They’ve been there a long time, they have a nice hall, that’s all good.”

Cooney said he believes live Christmas music helps people relax during what can be a time of tension and anxiety.

Music that uplifts

“It’s something about this time of year, no matter what’s going on in the world, no matter what … you try to be happy and with family, friends,” he said. “It’s an uplifting thought, and we can try to switch off from the world around Christmas time. And people just love the music.”

Rodriguez first captured the attention of Americans everywhere during some of the darkest moments in the nation’s history. He was the New York City police officer whose amazing voice soothed our grief in the days following 9/11. Career highlights include performing with the Boston Pops Orchestra and debuting before a worldwide audience at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Macchio is a gifted performer with a voice of exceptional power and beauty. A classically trained tenor from the Manhattan School of Music, this New York native has been wowing audiences by combining his golden-era sound with an engaging stage presence.

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The Dialog is the news outlet of the Diocese of Wilmington. This story was originally published by The Dialog and distributed through a partnership with OSV News.