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74TH SEASON 

OF CONCERTS

DECEMBER 6, 2015• NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART
Photo by Deanna Rose

2 * National Gallery of Art

3:30 • West Building, West Garden Court

Mark O'Connor, fiddle

Cia Cherryholmes, banjo and vocals

Forrest O'Connor, mandolin and vocals

Kate Lee, violin and vocals

Maggie O'Connor, fiddle

Joe Smart, guitar

Michael Rinne, bass

An Appalachian Christmas

The program will be announced from the stage.
The Musicians

Mark O'Connor started his musical career as a prodigy, apprenticing with folk fiddler

extraordinaire, Benny Thomasson, and Stephane Grappelli, the genius of the jazz fiddle.

Mark quickly developed into a master, composing such instant classics as "Appalachia

Waltz,” leading the New York Times to call his rise "one of the most spectacular journeys

in recent American music," and the Los Angeles Times to describe him as "one of the most

talented and imaginative artists working in music —any music —today."

O'Connor has won two Grammy awards, seven national fiddle titles, two national

guitar titles, one world mandolin title, and six Musician of the Year awards from the Country

Music Association. He has played on more than five hundred albums, recording with Paul

Simon, James Taylor, and Dolly Parton, not to mention his sensational collaborations with

Yo-Yo Ma, Chris Thile, Bela Fleck, and Edgar Meyer.

The touring musicians with Mark O'Connor are substantial artists in their own right. 

Singer and fiddler Carrie Rodriguez has toured extensively with Bill Frisel; Cia Cherryholmes

was the lead singer and banjoist in the hit bluegrass band Cherryholmes; singer and mandolinist Forrest O'Connor is touring with his group Wisewater; Joe Smart is a two-time

National Flatpick Guitar Champion; violinist Maggie O'Connor tours regularly with her

husband Mark O'Connor, performing violin duos; and bassist Michael Rinne regularly

performs with Rodney Crowell.

This is the fifth year these performers are touring with An Appalachian Christmas. The

ensemble has a dynamic energy on stage that shares their individual expertise as artists in

the most delightful and musically satisfying way.

4 • National Gallery of Art

Program Notes

Grammy-winning composer and violinist Mark O'Connor has created several arrangements

of Christmas classics and fashions a wondrous mixture of both instrumental and vocal

music in bluegrass and other American musical genres. Concertgoers are treated to fresh

takes on traditional songs with a few original compositions included. His renditions are

playful and joyous, but can be strikingly earnest too.

O'Connor's An Appalachian Christmas (2011) reached the #1 ranking on Billboard's

Bluegrass Album charts and has been in the top five each year since. Hailed by critics from

the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times as a top-ten album of 

the holiday season, it has become a perennial classic Christmas recording.

O'Connor says, "Appalachia is the original melting pot of our country featuring more 

diverse styles of American music than just about anywhere. This theme makes for what is

a trilogy of my Appalachia recordings now: Appalachia Waltz, Appalachian Journey, and An

Appalachian Christmas. My album features well-known carols, as well as several Appalachian-themed songs about a beloved hunting dog and passing a fiddle down through the 

generations. It also offers a new version of Appalachia Waltz with classical guitarist Sharon

Isbin. A few of my favorite Christmas centerpieces for the album include Renee Fleming's

soprano embraced by a mountain orchestra and fiddle solo, as well as the jazzy style of Jane

Monheit with an all-acoustic string band."

Mark O'Connor — An Appalachian Christmas

For Mr. O'Connor's downloadable sheet music and recordings on his own OMAC Records

label, including the critically acclaimed An Appalachian Christmas, featuring Renee Fleming,

James Taylor, Jane Monheit, Steve Wariner, Alison Krauss, Yo-Yo Ma, Sharon Isbin, and Chris

Thile, please visit www.markoconnor.com. For information regarding the O'Connor Method

for violin and strings as well as summer string camps, please visit www.oconnormethod.com.

Mark O'Connor —An Appalachian Christmas appears by arrangement with Cadenza Artists.

Microphones provided by Ear Trumpet Labs, Portland, Oregon

74th Season • 5
The Seventy-Fourth Season of General Information

The William Nelson Cromwell and.

F. Lammot Belin Upcoming Concerts

Howard University's Afro Blue

Community Caroling

December 12, Saturday, 1:30 and 2:30 

West Building Rotunda

DC Youth Orchestra

Community Caroling

December 13, Sunday, 1:30 and 2:30 

West Building, East Garden Court

Trio Sefardi

Five Celebrations

December 13, Sunday, 3:30 

West Building, West Garden Court

Marriotts Ridge High School Madrigals

Community Caroling

December 19, Saturday, 1:30 and 2:30 

West Building Rotunda

Admission to the National Gallery of Art

and all of its programs is free of charge,

except as noted.

The use of cameras or recording equipment

during the performance is not allowed.

Please be sure that all portable electronic

devices are turned off.

Concerts are made possible in part

through the generosity of donors to the

National Gallery of Art through The Circle.

Reserved seating is available in recognition

of their support. Please contact the

development office at (202) 842-6450 or

circle@nga.gov for more information.

www.nga.gov

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www.twitter.com/ngadc

www.facebook.com/nationalgalleryofart

The department of music produced these

program notes. Copyright © 2075 Board of

Trustees, National Gallery ofArt, Washington

Cover Marc Chagall, Greeting Card for 1972

(detail), 1971, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Gerhard E. Pinkus

Back cover West Building, East Garden Court,

National Gallery of Art, Gallery Archives

© Dennis Brack/Black Star