Mark O'Connor - O'Connor Method

06/18/2026

It was a privilege to watch the Obama Presidential Center opening ceremony on television just now. What a center it will be there in Chicago, open to the public tomorrow. The live musical performances today were beautiful and amazing. The other presidents were there on stage to view it all and pay respect—and the amazing speeches by Michelle Obama, and by President Barack Obama. True American greatness right there between the both of them. Maybe America can be good again as they promise us... perhaps the likes of what we just saw! Do yourself a favor and watch this entire 3 hours on YouTube tonight when you get home. It'll make you feel very good, or at least a lot better than before they took the stage a few minutes ago and made this dedication of the new center to all.

06/17/2026

I have a very special treat to share. I now own the master recording of 'The New Nashville Cats" and of the hit song, "Restless" with Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs and Steve Wariner! We are releasing it on the digital platforms through my OMAC Record label as I successfully acquired it from Warner/ Paramount pre-there acquisition. It's a double Grammy-winner, so pre-save it right now on your favorite place to listen to music! This time, the royalties go right here! (This near-gold-selling album was never out of the red—hmmmm....how convenient). The remaster sounds burning. An excellent sounding recording to begin with, could have been recorded yesterday. Yeah!

Pre-save it:

Listen to content by Mark O'Connor.

06/17/2026

Very excited to offer this special concert on the July 4th celebration week in Steamboat Springs, CO! This is a part of our America 250 summer rollout. The July 3rd concert will begin with the Mark and Maggie duo. Then some fabulous classical musicians from major symphony orchestras such as the L.A. Phil, National Symphony, Minnesota Symphony, Cleveland Symphony and more will join us; string players, piano. Michael Sachs on trumpet to interpret "Brave Wolfe"; also "Song of the Liberty Bell" (both pieces from my 'Liberty! an American Revolution' album). We'll play fiddle tunes, spirituals, Mexican polkas, swing, blues, Copland, finishing on "Strings & Threads Suite" with Maggie and string players.

July 1st - Bluegrass and Beyond: my 2nd string quartet will be performed by the Modern American String Quartet alongside of Philip Glass' 5th string quartet.

July 3rd is our American Roots - the evolution of folk music celebration with the duo and guest musicians.

It all takes place at the Steamboat Springs, CO 'Strings Music Festival' at the Pavilion! Can't wait!

https://stringsmusicfestival.com

06/16/2026

Comments coming in from the ‘Geneva Music Festival’ for Mark and Maggie O’Connor’s sold out concert finale. (And our first official booking with The Kurland Agency!!)

“Marshall and I had a great time at the show! Highly recommend seeing Mark and Maggie!!” -Daniel Godwin

“The Finger Lakes area is a treasure. As are the two of you. Great concert and so in awe of your talent and synchronicity. Loved hearing the stories that inspired your songs.” -Kelly Gough

“Fantastic concert…love your music and the obvious love and respect you have for each other!—thank you for coming to Geneva, NY!!!!!” -Ruth Benedict

“What a great concert!! So impressive! So very happy to have you here.” -Paul Bialobok

“Beautiful music! Come back soon. This reminded me of seeing you at Kilbourn hall back when I was in high school. I love hearing you perform, first heard you when I was 8.” -Michael Loeb

“I attended your performance with Maggie at Geneva on the Lake yesterday. It was wonderful!” -Paul Penner

“They are heart shaped.” -Ann Shelton

“Mark and Maggie O’Connor brightened a rainy Sunday with a wonderful concert.” -Jan Regan Photography (who took this great photo during the performance)

06/15/2026

We stepped off the stage tonight and had this photo taken by John, a member of the board for the Geneva Music Festival — Geneva on the Lake in New York. What a fantastic setting, an incredible sold out audience to play for. You all hung onto every note—all the notes for 2 hrs plus… We played our hearts out for you, and to see so many standing ovations during the concert! My goodness. Yes!!! Loved playing for ya, and thanks for having us—would love to come back soon!

06/13/2026

I said this morning we were on our way to Geneva, NY for our sold out concert tomorrow—our version of America 250 celebration all through the summer—certainly some contrast in programming to the White House cage fight taking place at the very same hour as our acoustic music here. Well we just arrived, and I had no idea that this beautiful splendor was our outdoor concert setting right on the finger lakes! Geneva on the Lake! Geneva Music Festival.

06/13/2026

Please tell me it’s true this morn. A rainbow appears.
We haven’t played a concert in a couple weeks, but tomorrow’s concert in Geneva, NY is not only sold out for our duo, but our show goes up against the UFC cage fight on the White House lawn. You’ll know where we’ll be!

06/12/2026

The workers are there, the scaffolding is there. I assume there's a live web cam of this to witness this particular history... The added name is coming down today.

*The Kennedy Center of course is a living memorial for the slain president John F. Kennedy that hosts music and all of the performing arts, and was named by the United States Congress, as illustrated in Federal Court by Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH).

I was appointed to the Artist Committee for 15 straight years for the Kennedy Center Honors (during the Clinton, Bush and Obama administrations), and played there many times, including twice with the National Symphony performing my compositions for orchestra including my 2nd concerto "Fanfare for the Volunteer" and my 3rd concerto, "Double Violin Concerto".

The damage done to the National Symphony over the last year over this debacle is considerable. Next season is mostly lost due to trump shutting down the center and cancelling all future programming for 2 years. The damage inflicted to all the music there is awful. I sincerely hope that the orchestra's musicians are able to reconstitute quickly with funding, but according to many experts, this will not be easy, and in fact is in danger of disappearing.

"Former NSO Artistic Adviser Ben Folds published an open letter warning the public that the orchestra "may not survive" due to suffocating financial turmoil and the chaos of the presidential takeover, urging overwhelming community support."

It was proven in federal court brought by Rep Beatty that any necessary renovations to the Center can take place while the building remains open as there are enough halls to use for performing while another part of the building can be worked on. The performing of arts at the Center must be continuous as mandated by Congress.

06/12/2026

We're heading out tomorrow for our solo-out performance at the Geneva Music Festival in New York this weekend! Here'a shot from our last duo performance at the Tryon PAC in North Carolina. Always fun to pick up that guitar once in a while! Maggie thinks so, too!

06/12/2026

Yesterday’s been a wonderful day for sheet music sales again. 12 pieces sold from one of the digital download sites we use. We’ve got some of my favorite titles popping up here, including some of my piano music! There is the “Fiddle Sonata Trio” with piano that I composed on commission for the Library of Congress and premiered there at Jefferson Hall. I adapted it into a trio and this is going to be the subject of a future album for me! (Yes, I am still considering making another album because it will make 50 feature releases). And then one of my favorites of mine, “Poets and Prophets” Piano Trio No. 1. This is my tribute to the life and times of Johnny Cash, transformed into American Classical music played by piano, violin and cello. I toured this piece with my own trio as a double header with Johnny’s daughter Rosanne Cash! She gave the piece her blessing for sure! And my familiar string pieces, “Emily’s Reel” the string trio version, “Fisher’s Hornpipe” the string quartet version - which makes a cool encore piece or finale, and of course my standby “Appalachia Waltz” in this case for the piano trio. I have many arrangements of this, and the one with piano, violin and cello is very effective — one of my favorites.

Get this sheet music and lots more at: https://www.markoconnor.com/sheet-music-downloads