Mark O’Connor’s “An Appalachian Christmas” album (2011) made the top 15 on Billboard’s Classical Album, Crossover and Bluegrass Album charts. It was hailed by critics from The Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times as the top album of the holiday season. O’Connor is a Grammy-winning composer and violinist who tackles Christmas classics creating a wondrous mixture of Christmas carols, fiddling, bluegrass and other American music. Concert goers are treated to fresh takes on traditional songs in what feels like an “off-the-cuff performance for family and friends.” His renditions are playful and joyous, but can be strikingly earnest too.