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Grammy winning Artists Headline a Patriotic Program Celebrating American Composers, Veterans, and GWU鈥檚 New President Nate Evans

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥擨nfluenced early by American fiddle traditions and later shaped by classical and jazz training, Mark O鈥機onnor鈥檚 music reflects the full scope of America鈥檚 musical heritage. On April 27 at 7 p.m. in Dover Theatre, his unique musical talent comes to Gardner鈥慦ebb University as the GWU Orchestra presents 鈥淎merica at 250! A Celebration!鈥� The concert features O鈥機onnor and his wife, violinist Maggie O鈥機onnor, whose performances blend classical training with American roots traditions.

鈥淲e will honor 250 years of America by performing music by American composers with an American soloist, Mark O鈥機onnor,鈥� said Dr. Patricia Sparti, conductor of the Gardner Webb University Orchestra. 鈥淗e is the greatest jazz violinist, bluegrass fiddler and American musician of this generation. We will also honor veterans during the program.鈥�

Tickets for 鈥淎merica at 250! A Celebration!鈥� are $15 and free for all students and Gardner鈥慦ebb faculty and staff.

Few living musicians embody the breadth, innovation and spirit of American music quite like Mark O鈥機onnor. Grammy鈥憌inning folk icon James Taylor once said of him, 鈥淭here鈥檚 something about that guy鈥檚 touch. I think he is to music what Muhammad Ali is to boxing.鈥� Yo鈥慪o Ma echoed that sentiment, praising both O鈥機onnor鈥檚 mastery and restless creativity: 鈥淏etween thought and execution there are no impediments, zero. But what really interests me is that this is a person in constant development, hungry to develop.鈥�

That hunger has shaped one of the most singular careers in American music history. A four鈥憈ime Grand Masters Champion, O鈥機onnor was only 13 years old when he became the youngest person ever to win the Grand Master Fiddler Championships, an all鈥慳ges competition. His record still stands atop more than four decades later. Additionally, he remains the only musician to have won national championships on fiddle, bluegrass guitar, and mandolin.

Also a three-time Grammy winner and eight-time CMA Artist of the Year, O鈥機onnor is one of the most in鈥慸emand session musicians in the country. He has recorded on more than 500 albums and collaborated with artists ranging from Dolly Parton and Paul Simon to Randy Travis and The Judds.

Yet O鈥機onnor鈥檚 influence reaches far beyond the recording studio. Drawing equally from folk traditions, jazz and classical training, he has forged what many critics call a new American classical music. His works鈥攊ncluding the bestselling 鈥淎ppalachia Waltz,鈥� co鈥憆ecorded with Yo鈥慪o Ma and Edgar Meyer, and 鈥淭he American Seasons鈥濃�攁re now staples of orchestral repertoires worldwide. His 鈥淔iddle Concerto鈥� remains the most鈥憄erformed modern violin concerto of the last 50 years.

Maggie will share the stage with her husband. A violinist and vocalist, she is also a Grammy Award鈥憌inning artist whose career bridges classical virtuosity and American roots music with rare ease. Trained at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University and the Aspen Music Festival and School, Maggie brings both technical command and expressive depth to every performance. Critics have praised her as 鈥渇ormidable鈥� and 鈥渟oulful,鈥� noting her uncanny musical connection with her husband on stage.

Maggie has performed at the Grand Ole Opry, appeared at Carnegie Hall鈥檚 Zankel Hall, and collaborated with artists including Paul Simon, B茅la Fleck, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. In addition to performing, she is an educator and co鈥慸irector of the O鈥機onnor Method String Camps, helping shape the next generation of American string players. A visual artist as well, Maggie draws inspiration from the intersection of music, nature and imagination鈥攁n influence that resonates through her artistry.

The April 27 program reflects the sweeping story of American music, past and present. Highlights include the finale of Dvo艡谩k鈥檚 鈥淣ew World Symphony,鈥� Gershwin selections from 鈥淧orgy and Bess鈥� (arranged by Robert Russell Bennett), Copland鈥檚 iconic 鈥淗oedown from Rodeo,鈥� and Elgar鈥檚 鈥淧omp and Circumstance No. 4,鈥� performed in honor of Gardner鈥慦ebb University鈥檚 new president, Nate Evans.

The program also features 鈥淔aith鈥� from O鈥機onnor鈥檚 groundbreaking 鈥淚mprovised Violin Concerto,鈥� with Mark O鈥機onnor as soloist, as well as 鈥淪trings and Threads,” a piece he composed. Both Mark and Maggie will perform violin, guitar, and vocals on Mark’s arrangement of Stevie Wonder鈥檚 鈥淟ove鈥檚 in Need of Love Today.”

Together, the evening serves as both a tribute and a celebration鈥攈onoring America鈥檚 musical heritage while showcasing artists who continue to expand its possibilities.

Following the concert, Mark and Maggie O鈥機onnor will sell CDs, DVDs, shirts and jewelry and will sign autographs and take photos with audience members.

Auxiliary aids will be made available to persons with disabilities upon request 10 working days prior to the event.  Please call 704-406-4270 or email [email protected] with your request.

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