Mark O’Connor
Courtesy
The youngest person ever to win the Grand Master Fiddler Championships is coming to Fayetteville this week.
Mark O’Connor, the former child prodigy turned composer, virtuoso violinist and fiddle player is set to perform his new show “An Appalachian Christmas” on Friday, Dec. 13 at Walton Arts Center.
O’Connor won the Grand Master Fiddler Championship as a 13-year-old in 1974, competing against fiddlers of all ages, both amateur and professional. He has also won the National Guitar Flatpicking Championship and the World Mandolin Championship over his career, making him the only artist to ever win all three competitions.
He has been called “One of the most talented and imaginative artists working in music — any music — today,” by the Los Angeles Times, and the Seattle Times called his work “Brilliantly original.”
O’Connor released the album version of the live show in 2011. The record, which included collaborations with James Taylor, Alison Krauss, Yo-Yo Ma, Chris Thile, Renee Fleming, and Jane Monheit, made the Billboard Top 15 as a Classical, Crossover, and Bluegrass Album.
The show features 16 classic holiday songs, all performed by some of the best musicians working today.
Tickets range from $29-49, and are on sale at waltonartscenter.org.
