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An Enchanting Celebration
Written By: Marlene Osteen | Issue: November 2024
Grammy-winning musicians Mark and Maggie O’Connor will perform An Appalachian Christmas at the Highlands Performing Arts Center on Friday, November 29, at 7:30 P.M.
Mark and Maggie O’Connor
Grammy-winning musicians Mark and Maggie O’Connor will perform An Appalachian Christmas at the Highlands Performing Arts Center on Friday, November 29, at 7:30 P.M. For tickets, visit HighlandsPerformingArts.com.
Get into the holiday spirit with an unforgettable night of music when Grammy-winning Mark and Maggie O’Connor return to the Highlands Performing Arts Center for An Appalachian Christmas on Friday, November 29, at 7:30 P.M. Combining bluegrass instrumental brilliance with dynamic vocal performances, the O’Connors bring fresh, inspired arrangements of Christmas classics to life, capturing the full range of emotions that the holiday season evokes from playful joy to moments of deep gratitude and contemplation.
An Appalachian Christmas by Mark O’Connor was released in 2010 and has since received widespread praise for its ability to transform holiday favorites into something wondrous, weaving together bluegrass with O’Connor’s unique take on American classical music.
A celebrated musician, O’Connor began his journey at the feet of American fiddling legend Benny Thomasson and French jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli. Over his illustrious career, he has won three Grammy Awards, seven CMA awards, and countless national championships in fiddle, guitar, and mandolin. His 2010 release, An Appalachian Christmas, was a critical success, earning praise from outlets like The Boston Globe, which said, “All Christmas music should be played so elegantly on violin,” while the New York Times called it “Elegant,” and the Associated Press described it as “Heavenly.”
O’Connor’s compositions have captivated the world’s most renowned musicians, including Yo-Yo Ma and Renée Fleming, and his American Classical style has inspired dance companies like Twyla Tharp Dance Co. and the New York City Ballet. His music, rich both in tradition and innovation, frequently appears in the works of documentary filmmaker Ken Burns.
This performance promises to be a enchanting celebration of the holiday season, with the O’Connors delivering a mix of Appalachian tradition, bluegrass, and the warm spirit of Christmas. An Appalachian Christmas has been a popular concert across the country, and now it’s coming to Highlands to fill the air with festive, heartwarming music.
Tickets are available at HighlandsPerformingArts.com. or 507 Chestnut Street.
