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May 30, 2009 | O'Connor Inducted Into The National Fiddler Hall Of Fame In Tulsa
Special congratulations to violinist/multi-instrumentalist/composer, Mark O'Connor for his recent induction into the National Fiddler Hall Of Fame. His award observes his, "extraordinary career as a performer, collaborator and composer of many genres of music that features the fiddle and tantalizes audiences with your boundless creativity. Tulsa, Oklahoma, April 29, 2009."
From the bio read on stage at the ceremony, "Mark O'Connor was born in Seattle Washington on August 5, 1961. His childhood and teen years were filled with musical contests culminating in national championships not just on fiddle but on guitar and mandolin as well. His mentors and inspirations were the well-respected Texas fiddler, Benny Thomasson and jazz fiddler Stephane Grappelli. A survey of Mark's recordings, concerts and compositions shows that he has drawn from these two genres of music as well as classical and folk music.
"The list of Mark's accomplishments and accolades would fill up the rest of our time together...He recently released a new CD, AMERICANA SYMPHONY, that features his own uniquely original and personal style of music. Called American Classical, O'Connor's original music has an ability to recall many of the great composers and musicians of the past, yet it is distinctly his own.
Mark's time is filled with collaborations, master classes, creating educational books of the Mark O'Connor Method, concerts and composing. He is truly dedicated to preserving the art form of fiddling, and advancing it as well. A recent interview may capture it best. When asked what he would most like to be remembered for, he answered, 'Someone who helped bring the violin back in to prominence in America, and creating a style of music that fully utilizes the 400 years of American fiddling cultures, Blues music and 100 years of jazz and fully implementing these things to inform a new classical music.'"
Congratulations, Mark!
Artist website: Mark O'Connor
Posted by Ted at May 30, 2009 5:46 AM
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