A Touch of the Irish

Celebrated classical pianist John O’Conor first performed Beethoven’s Appassionata Sonata at age 17. It kindled his passion for Beethoven’s music and sparked a successful international performance and teaching career.

In February, O’Conor made his Portland performance debut at Lewis & Clark as part of the College’s weeklong Distinguished Pianist Residency, during which he lectured and taught master classes.

“It was an honor to have John O’Conor at Lewis & Clark,” says Orla McDonagh, pianist and visiting music instructor at the College who studied for more than a decade with O’Conor. “Our students benefited greatly from John’s expertise as a performer and from his sensitivity to the needs of music teachers.”

Pianist John O’Conor

Regarded as a masterful interpreter of classical and early romantic piano repertoire, O’Conor maintains an active touring schedule. He has performed with numerous orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic, Czech philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Detroit Symphony, and Montreal Symphony. In the spring, he made his first visit to China.

O’Conor, who lives in Dublin, is director of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, artistic director of the AXA Dublin International Piano Competition, and director of the Wilhelm Kempf master classes in Positano, Italy. He is a jury member for numerous piano competitions, including the Tchaikovsky and Busoni competitions.