Mark O’Connor 6/12/09

June 13, 2009

I am in Ottawa, Kansas, for music camp. The students are wonderful and the organization is just great! I enjoy coming here for teaching and performing for 10 years, and every single year I look forward for this summer music making in Kansas! I performed last night with 2 great musicians, and I am very happy to hear so many positive comments on our recital! Tonight was one of highlights of this music camp because we had Mark O’Connor performing his string quartet and his solo pieces. Oh—he is just marvelous! He has a great technique and imagination! He can do anything with violin!! His rhythmic drive is very natural, but very energetic! I was stunned! After this concert we went to the reception, and he was so nice to chat with!! He gave me several CDs of his recent recordings. I am looking forward to performing his piano trio for next year. I am inspired.

As I write in my greetings page the music took me to so many wonderful places, and Ottawa, Kansas, is certainly the one of those memorable and exciting places I have gone. Our music making will be continuing to next week here, and we will conclude this camp on 6/20.