Mark O'Connor Gears Up For A Busy Fall

New York, NY. (Top40 Charts/ Shore Fire Media) - Mark O'Connor - the composer and violinist whose fluency with both classical and American traditions has made him one of the most acclaimed figures in contemporary music - will be busy this fall with a diverse collection of performances and events ranging from performances at Carnegie Hall and Harvard to a collaboration with Roseanne Cash.

In September, O'Connor will perform and record a pair of his original compositions. From September 9 - 12th, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Marin Alsop conducting, will record his newly composed Americana Symphony, 'Variations on Appalachia Waltz.' Later that same month, O'Connor will be a special guest of Harvard, performing and recording his Concerto No. 6, 'Old Brass,' with the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, Joel Smirnoff conducting, in a special session that will allow Harvard students to view the recording process. 'Old Brass' was commissioned by St. Martin in the Fields in 2003, and takes inspiration from a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed plantation in South Carolina.

In October O'Connor will kick off the first in a series of events as Artist in Residence at the Herb Alpert School of Music at UCLA for 2008 - 2009. On October 20th, he will hold an unaccompanied violin recital of original music, featuring 6 caprices, 3 improvisations, two re-tuned pieces, and tributes to a pair of his violin mentors: Benny Thomasson and Stephane Grappelli. In the following days, O'Connor will hold classes on American Classical Music. Rounding out the month is a special guest spot at Carnegie Hall on October 29th, performing with virtuosos Chris Thile on mandolin and Edgar Meyer on double bass, O'Connor will be rearranging one of his violin caprices for the trio format.

November 17th through 20th, O'Connor will give one of his two-day residencies at Philadelphia's Curtis School of Music as the special guest of professors Ida Kavafian, Jennifer Higdon, and Edgar Meyer. On November 21st, O'Connor will visit the Library of Congress for a special collaborative concert with Rosanne Cash consisting of a 4- movement piano, violin, and cello trio named 'Poets and Prophets,' inspired by the life and music of one of O'Connor's boyhood heroes, Johnny Cash, as well as a joint performance with Rosanne Cash later in the program.