'Idol' singer, Valley woman strike special chordby Randy Cordova - Mar. 2, 2009 09:12 AM
The Arizona Republic
Even before he landed on "American Idol," the Valley's Scott MacIntyre touched a lot of lives through his music. But Patricia Cosand of Tempe has a special bond with the singer.
Two years ago, MacIntyre was diagnosed with a failing kidney. Cosand responded by donating one of hers to the young musician, and saved his life.
"I thought this was something I could probably do," says Cosand, who is a teacher. "He's just a very gifted and skilled young man."
Walter Cosand, Patricia's husband, was MacIntyre's piano teacher during his years at Arizona State University. He, too, noted how exceptional MacIntyre's abilities were.
"He is a remarkable pianist, and always very positive," says Walter Cosand, who began working with him when MacIntyre was 14 years old. "Just everything about him is remarkable."
MacIntyre was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2005, and began dialysis the following year. According to a post he wrote on his MySpace blog, four potential donors were disqualified before Patricia Cosand was approved.
"Mere words cannot express my deep gratitude to this person for offering such a profound gift," MacIntyre writes. "In essence, the gift of life."
A few days before the surgery, the Cosands spent an evening with the MacIntyre family.
"His mother was in tears, telling me how I was such a blessing to their family," Patricia recalls. "We all prayed together that it would go well for both of us."
The surgery was performed at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix.
"In the words of the surgeon and all the transplant doctors involved, absolutely everything went as well as it could be hoped surgically," he writes. "To run into zero complications . . . is nothing short of a miracle."
"It was neat," Patricia says. "It was a huge answered prayer."
It wouldn't be a surprise if some divine intervention was involved. After all, MacIntyre has racked up a staggering list of accomplishments for someone who is just 23.
He began training in classical piano at age 5. At 14 he began studying piano performance at Arizona State University; the following year he debuted with the Phoenix Symphony as a guest soloist.
He was named a Marshall and Fulbright Scholar and received a master's degree from the Royal College of Music in London in 2006. He graduated from ASU at age 19; by that time, he had already performed around the country with his family and released independent CDs.
In 2008 he appeared with his family at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after being honored by VSA Arts, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C.
MacIntyre's achievements are even more impressive when you consider that the musician is legally blind. He was born with Leber's congenital amaurosis, which has impaired his vision since birth. His field of vision is about 2 degrees.
"It's like looking through a straw at the world," MacIntyre told The Arizona Republic last year. "Because of the lack of vision, I tried to fill that space with sound."
MacIntyre received a lot of airtime during this season's early "American Idol" episodes. Now, as he emerges among the show's top 36 performers, he is something of a front-runner. Although the producers have mentioned MacIntyre's impairment, he seems to play it down (per "Idol" policy, the press have limited access to MacIntyre and his family).
"I always kid him that he must be part bat, because you often don't know he can't see," Walter Cosand says. "At the keyboard, he's a very accurate marksman."
The Cosands are having fun watching "American Idol," which is a new experience for them.
"I'm a classical nerd," Patricia admits. "I'm really rooting for him."
She was a bit surprised at how easily he handles pop music.
"It wasn't a side of him I was really aware of," she says. "But he's not just someone who thinks he can sing: He's really a fine musician."
She has stayed in touch with MacIntyre since the successful operation two years ago.
"He called me on the anniversary of the surgery, and he says, 'Of course, I was thinking about you today,' " she says. "It's a very unusual connection."
But it means if he goes far on TV, the Cosands can feel as if they played a role in his success.
"I always call him my wife's singing kidney," Walter says, with a laugh.
Reach the reporter at randy.cordova@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8849
http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/music/articles/2009/03/02/20090302idolscott.html
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