Hailed as a phenomenon whose technique and instrumental mastery transcend musical styles, Mark O’Connor claims legions of fans from virtually every musical genre — country, jazz, bluegrass, Celtic and classical. Often called “a musician’s musician,” he has established himself as a master fiddler, guitarist and mandolinist. The range of his talent is astounding.

A child prodigy and national fiddle champion, O’Connor won his first contest — a classical/flamenco guitar competition at the University of Washington — at the age of ten. By the time he was in high school, he had won every major fiddle competition in the country and had recorded four albums. After graduation, he began working with the innovative mandolinist David Grisman and toured with renowned jazz violinist Stéphane Grapelli. He became Nashville’s most acclaimed and in-demand musician in the 1980’s, playing and recording with James Taylor, Chet Atkins, Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, Andreas Vollenweider, Randy Travis and jazz saxophonist Michael Brecker.

In 1990, O’Connor began declining the constant invitations of others to more fully concentrate on his own career as a solo artist. After appearing on more than 450 recordings in six years, he elected to devote more attention to composing and performing his own music, which includes six critically acclaimed albums. O’Connor is a 1992 Grammy winner for best country instrumental performance for his New Nashville Cats album. In 1994, he followed New Nashville Cats with the Grammy nominated Heroes project, a landmark gathering of violinists from virtually all musical genres. The list included Stéphane Grappelli, Jean-Luc Ponty, Pinchas Zuckerman, L. Shankar and Johnny Gimble.

Based on themes inspired by the history and habitat of his adopted home state, Tennessee, his second symphonic composition, Fiddle Concerto No. 2, made its debut in May 1996 with Mark O’Connor as soloist. The work gained tremendous critical acclaim, prompting one reviewer to note: “Mark O’Connor has surely joined the ranks of America’s foremost young composers.” In 1996, he also performed at the closing ceremonies of the Centennial Olympiad in Atlanta, performing Olympic Reel, which he wrote for the occasion.

O’Connor has appeared at Carnegie Hall with Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman and Midori, and at the Kennedy Center in a tribute to Roy Acuff. He has also appeared as a guest soloist with the Boston Pops and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and at the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. He was recently seen performing with Yo-Yo Ma and Edgar Meyer for President Bill Clinton’s inaugural gala, during which he spoke movingly of his Irish grandfather’s experiences as an immigrant in the U.S.

O’Connor has composed modern classical compositions for chamber ensemble, including a string quartet commissioned in 1990 by the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. He is a member of the faculty of the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University.

Having won more than 100 awards, including eight from the Academy of Country Music, he was listed in Esquire magazine’s list of outstanding young men and women under 40 who are changing America.

O’Connor’s most recent recording is Appalachia Waltz, a collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma and doublebassist Edgar Meyer. Released in September 1996, it debuted at number one on Billboard’s classical chart. This remarkable album features the string trio performing a number of original works composed and arranged by O’Connor and Meyer.

O’Connor maintains a constant touring schedule which includes performances of his Fiddle Concerto, pops concerts, and solo recitals. Of one of his recitals a Seattle writer wrote, “His performances are moving occasions filled with energy, joy and laughter…no matter what he plays, when you’re listening to O’Connor, you know you’re listening to genius.”