Mark O'connor to Premiere New String Symphony "Elevations" in San Francisco May 19-22, Commissioned by New Century Chamber Orchestra

NEW COMPOSITION "THE IMPROVISED VIOLIN CONCERTO" GREETED WITH RAVES AND STANDING

OVATIONS AT RECENT PERFORMANCES

Multiple Grammy-winning composer, violinist and educator Mark O'Connor will premiere

his new string symphony, "Elevations," in San Francisco with four concerts on May

19-22 commissioned by The New Century Chamber Orchestra including a Saturday, 5/21

concert at the Herbst Theatre. Full list of dates below.

Watch a video previewing the concert, created by NCCO Music Director Nadja Salerno

Sonnenberg, here: http://bit.ly/eRf283

Earlier this month, O'Connor performed his new composition, "The Improvised Violin

Concerto," at two lauded concerts in Boston and Indianapolis. Reviewing the world

premiere at Boston Symphony Hall, The Boston Globe noted the Hall "erupted with

cheers." The Indianapolis Star declared that an appearance by "the seductive

fiddler" was the "best thing" about the evening's concert at Hilbert Circle Theatre.

Later this year, O'Connor will continue the expansion of his own teaching method

this year, which the New Yorker called "an American-grown rival to the Suzuki

method." Tens of thousands of children around the country are now learning from the

O'Connor Method, which includes great folk songs, fiddle tunes, original works and

classic themes from America's 400-year history of violin playing, representing

musical styles including classical, folk, Latin, jazz, rock and ragtime.

This summer, O'Connor's acclaimed String Camps will gather the world's top

violinists, violists and cellists to instruct string players of all skill levels in

intimate class settings. The camps will take place at East Tennessee State

University in Johnson City, TN (6/20-6/24) and at Berklee College of Music in

Boston, MA (6/27-7/1).

For more info on the 2011 String Camps and registration instructions, click here:

http://bit.ly/6ddDhs

In September, O'Connor will release a holiday album featuring collaborations with

Renee Fleming, Sharon Isbin, Alison Krauss, Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Jane Monheit,

James Taylor, Chris Thile, Steve Wariner and more.

Stay tuned for updates.

MARK O'CONNOR 2011 CONCERTS:

3/30 - Evanston, IL @ Pick-Staiger Concert Hall (O'Connor String Quartet)

4/30 - Ventura, CA @ Ventura Missionary Church (O'Connor String Quartet)

5/06 - Brevard, NC

5/19 - San Francisco, CA @ First Congregational Church (world premiere of "Elevations")

5/20 - San Francisco, CA @ First United Methodist Church ("Elevations")

5/21- San Francisco, CA  @ Herbst Theatre ("Elevations")

5/22 - San Francisco, CA @ Osher Marin Jewish Community Center ("Elevations")

6/24 - Johnson City, TN @ East Tennessee State University (O'Connor String Camp and

concert)

6/27 - 7/01 - Boston, MA @ Berklee College of Music (O'Connor String Camp and concert)

7/07 - Tanglewood, MA @ Ozawa Hall (O'Connor String Quartet)

7/12 - Boulder, CO @ Colorado Music Festival (O'Connor String Quartet)

8/05 - Charleston, NC @ Sotille Theatre (O'Connor Method Camp and 50th birthday

concert)

10/11 - St. Louis, MO @ Southeast Missouri State University in Gape Girardeau, MO

Full list of tour dates here: http://bit.ly/i7B4dt