Mark O’Connor’s Appalachia Waltz Trio blends folk and classical music into a purely American sound
2/7/2005 12:00:05 PM
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Feb. 7, 2005
Wilmington, N.C. – Mark O’Connor’s Appalachia Waltz Trio plays Americana music charmingly caught somewhere between folk and classical at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 12 in the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Kenan Auditorium. The trio will perform pieces O’Connor composed for the Grammy-winning Appalachian Journey, and Appalachia Waltz, recorded with cellist Yo-Yo Ma and double-bassist Edgar Meyer. This is the sixth event of UNCW’s seven-part Arts in Action Performance Series.
“Mark O’Connor is a pioneer in creating a new sound from traditional, purely American music,” said Shannon Hooker, assistant director for programs and marketing, University Union. “His compositions celebrate what is unique about the musical heritage of our country and, in particular, our region. Considering the popularity of bluegrass and folk music in our community, this is a performance not to be missed.”
According to The New York Times, violinist/composer/fiddler Mark O’Connor “can give his listeners a complex, sophisticated piece of early-21st-century classical music and then knock them dead with the brown-dirt whine of a Texas fiddle.” A product of America’s rich aural folk tradition, O’Connor’s journey began at the feet of Texas fiddler Benny Thomasson and French jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli. Drawing from these musical extremes, he has melded and shaped a new American classical music.
The works O’Connor composed for Appalachia Waltz gained worldwide recognition for him as a leading proponent of a new American musical idiom. The tremendously successful follow-up release, Appalachian Journey, received a 2001 Grammy Award.
The trio is rounded out by Carol Cook on viola and Natalie Haas on cello. Cook began her musical training at the age of three and studied at St. Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Oberlin Conservatory and Julliard. As a member of the Broyhill Ensemble, she has performed at the Appalachian Summer Festival in North Carolina. Haas, at 20 years old, is already a seasoned performer, though still a student at Julliard. The California native discovered the cello at age nine and has played in Scotland, France and throughout the U.S.
BOX OFFICE AND TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are $6 for university and area students, $14 for UNCW faculty/staff and senior citizens, and $18 for all others. For tickets, call Kenan Auditorium box office at 910/962-3500 or 800/732-3643 outside the Wilmington area. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
ABOUT UNCW ARTS IN ACTION PERFORMANCE SERIES
Sponsored by the University Union at UNCW and funded in part by UNCW student fees, the Arts in Action Performance Series seeks to culturally enrich, educate and entertain both students and the general public through the presentation of diverse programs featuring professional, high-quality performing artists. For more information, please visit the Arts in Action web site at www.uncw.edu/arts.
UNCW Arts in Action is a member of the N.C. Presenters Consortium and the U.S. National Association of Performing Arts Presenters. The 150 member venues of the N.C. Presenters Consortium may be visited at www.presenters.org.
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