Irish-American piper to perform at UI

URBANA – One of the most respected performers on the Irish bagpipe, Kieran O'Hare, will perform at 8 p.m. May 15 at the Channing-Murray Foundation on the University of Illinois campus.

O'Hare not only plays the uilleann pipes, but also concert flute and tin whistle. Born into an Irish-American family, O'Hare started playing at home while in his teens. He moved in 1991 to Dublin, Ireland, where he received a degree in modern history from Trinity College. He now lives in Chicago with his wife, fiddler Liz Knowles.

O'Hare in 1994 received the honor of being the first American-born player of Irish music invited to perform at the annual "Ace and Deuce of Piping" concert, held in Ireland's National Concert Hall.

Since then, he has made numerous appearances at festivals and concerts in the United States, Canada, Japan and Europe. Among the many artists with whom O'Hare has performed, toured or recorded are: Chicago fiddler Liz Carroll; Celtic and early music performers Ensemble Galilei; the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra; Bonnie Raitt; The Paul Winter Consort; Josh Groban; and Don Henley.

O'Hare has worked extensively in designing music for the stage and is in great demand as a teacher of Irish music. In 2002, he appeared in a musical role in the Sam Mendes film "Road to Perdition." Also, O'Hare in 2006-07 was the featured uilleann pipes and tin whistle player on Broadway for the new musical "The Pirate Queen," written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, and produced by John McColgan and Moya Doherty of "Riverdance."

This year, O'Hare will be seen as a featured performer on the PBS special presentation "Celtic Origins" with the Irish choral group ANUNA. Most recently, in March, he was the featured uilleann piper for the U.S. premiere of Irish composer Shaun Davey's "Relief of Derry" symphony at Chicago's Symphony Center.

Doors open at 7 p.m., and tickets are $15 for adults; $10 for educators and school staff; and $5 for students and seniors. Channing-Murray is located at 1209 W. Oregon St., U. For more information, visit online www.pipers-hut.com/concerts or www.kieranohare.com/.

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