Mark O'Connor Returns to San Luis Obispo

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA - Widely-recognized as one of the most
gifted talents of his generation, Grammy Award-winning
violinist/composer/fiddler Mark O'Connor performs with the Metamorphosen
Chamber Orchestra in a Christopher Cohan Center concert at 8 p.m. on
Tuesday, November 6, 2001.

Cal Poly Arts presents the all American program, which features Dan
Coleman's "Long Ago, This Radiant Day," John Adams' "Shaker Loops for
Seven Strings," and Mark O'Connor's own compositions "Strings and
Threads" and "The American Seasons."

The New York Times says Mark O'Connor's music is "one of the most
spectacular journeys in recent American music" and the Seattle Times
calls his music "brilliantly original."

Mr. O'Connor absorbed his knowledge and influence from a multitude of
musical styles and genres and his music is a product of America's rich
aural folk tradition. In a career spanning 25 years, O'Connor has
shaped these influences into a new American classical music.

His first recording, "Appalachia Waltz" (1995), was a collaboration
with Yo-Yo Ma and double bassist Edgar Meyer. 1997's "Liberty!" featured
O'Connor's arrangements of a variety of traditional American music and
expansive original orchestral works and both Yo-Yo Ma and Wynton
Marsalis appeared as guests on that release.

In April, 2000, O'Connor premiered his "The American Seasons: Seasons
of an American Life," with the Metamorphosen Chamber Orchestra and the
New York Times said "(it was) buoyed by its jazzy rhythms and by Mr.
O'Connor's unstoppable melodic gift."

Boston's vigorous 19-member Metamorphosen Chamber Orchestra performs
under the direction of co-founder Scott Yoo. The group has recorded
eight albums, which included premiere recordings of 14 new works. Their
concerts are recorded for WGBH radio, reaching audiences throughout New England.
Scott Yoo is in his eighth season as music director of the Orchestra.

An active chamber musician, Yoo has made frequent appearances with
chamber festival throughout the United States.
Cal Poly music professor Alyson McLamore will present a pre-concert
lecture at 7 p.m. in the Philips Recital Hall of the Christopher Cohan Center.

Tickets range from $32 - $44, with student discounts available, and
may be purchased at Performing Arts Ticket Office, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. To order by phone, call
805/SLO-ARTS (756-2787); to order by fax: (805) 756-6088.

This performance is sponsored by John and Deborah Spatafore and is
dedicated to the memory of Gladys Fiske by Don Fiske. The concert is
co-presented by KCBX FM 90.1.
For audio and video samples of Cal Poly Arts events, visit http://www.calpolyarts.org/.

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