Concerts in the Chapel Presents: Gerry O'Connor with Don Penzien!
SPH is delighted to welcome this duo to the Hall for a terrific night of Irish music. We are becoming a destination for excellent Celtic music and Gerry and Don represent that perfectly. This is Gerry’s first time to the Hall so please come out and give him a great welcome and enjoy this master fiddler!
Gerry O’Connor is from Dundalk, Co. Louth, where he grew up in a family of musicians, dancers and singers, all taught by his mother, Rose. From an early age Gerry was involved in Irish music, winning numerous All Ireland awards in a range of duets, trios and céilí band titles. Gerry is a four time winner of the Fiddler of Oriel competition, and in 2018 Gerry was awarded the“Ceannródaí”, the prestigious Bardic Award by Comhaltas for his valued contribution to the Trad Arts. He also launched his second solo album “Last Nights Joy” and published ” The Rose in the Gap” Dance Music of Oriel from the Donnellan Collection, not heard for a hundred years.
Gerry has performed and recorded with his bands Lá Lúgh, Skylark, and Oirialla, and toured and recorded with members of Boys of the Lough, The Chieftains, Bothy Band, and more. Unanimously considered a master fiddler by his peers, Gerry tours the world teaching and performing solo at festivals, in halls, and higher education institutions, and with the iconic Irish Rovers.
He is joined here by Don Penzien, who has long been a top-flight performer of Irish traditional music and a much sought after accompanist. It was the never- ending traditional music playing at the Irish pub he frequented while earning his Ph.D. (clinical psychology) in Athens, Ohio that inspired Don to play and where he began his exclusive use of the “DADGAD” guitar tuning with tips from such notables as Zan McLeod and Daíthí Sproule. He is frequently on the road playing concerts and festivals with his many projects including Gailfean (featuring Brian Conway, John Whelan & Máirtín de Cógáin), The Máirtín de Cógáin Project, and Shared Madness (featuring Haley Richardson & Megan Irby). Don is widely recognized for his reserved backing style and his dexterous work on DADGAD-tuned guitar provides solid, driving rhythms to traditional tunes as well as perceptive and sensitive accompaniments to songs and airs.
