Mark O’Connor
In Concert at Orcas Center
Sunday, March 19, 7:00pm
Please join the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival and Orcas Center in welcoming three-time Grammy Award winner Mark O’Connor back to Orcas Island! O’Connor was an Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival artist in 2009 (the year he was inducted into the National Fiddler Hall of Fame), performing his bluegrass- and jazz-tinged classical compositions.
Four-time National Old-Time Fiddler Champion, two-time National Guitar Flatpicking Champion, and World Mandolin Champion, all achieved while in his teens, O’Connnor has performed and recorded with Yo-Yo Ma, Renée Fleming, David Grisman, Jerry Douglas, Stéphane Grappelli, Edgar Meyer, Roseanne Cash, and the London Philharmonic, amongst countless others. He often collaborates with director Ken Burns on soundtracks for his documentaries. His works include fiddle tunes as well as highly-praised ensemble and orchestral pieces.
Dedicated to encouraging new generations of fiddlers, he has translated his signature fiddling style into The O’Connor Method™ for violin and strings. This new American school of string playing is hailed by teachers as filling a significant gap in music education.
O'Connor will be on Orcas as part of a release tour for his new book, “Crossing Bridges: My Journey from Child Prodigy to Fiddler Who Dared the World.” The memoir documents his experiences as a child prodigy, winning national contests as a teen, and his personal story of the trials and tribulations growing up as a traveling musician. In addition to “Crossing Bridges,” He also released a CD titled “Early Childhood Recordings” and an accompanying photo book, “A Musical Childhood in Pictures” in February.
The first half of the concert on March 19 will feature both classic tunes and songs and O'Connor’s original compositions highlighting violin, guitar, mandolin, and vocals. He will be joined by his wife, Grammy-winner Maggie O’Connor. The second half of the evening will feature anecdotes, readings from his new memoir, musical excerpts and examples, and opportunities for the audience to ask questions.
Free OICMF Friends of Joyce tickets for students 18 and younger and their families are available for this event! For information and to purchase Friends of Joyce tickets, please call the OICMF office at 360-376-6636 or email info@oicmf.org.
