Role

:

Composer Performer

Birth

:

1882

Death

:

1967

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Geoffrey O'Hara was a Canadian-American composer, singer, and songwriter who was born on February 2, 1882, in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. He was the son of Irish immigrants, and his father was a music teacher. O'Hara showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at a young age. He later learned to play the violin and the organ. O'Hara's family moved to the United States when he was a teenager, and he continued his musical education there. He attended the Chicago Musical College and later studied at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. He also studied voice with the famous Italian tenor, Enrico Caruso. O'Hara began his career as a singer, performing in operas and concerts throughout the United States and Canada. He also wrote and recorded popular songs, including "K-K-K-Katy" and "Your Eyes Have Told Me So." However, he is best known for his classical compositions. O'Hara's most famous work is his "Kathleen Mavourneen," which he composed in 1906. The song is a setting of a poem by Mrs. Crawford, and it became a popular ballad in the early 20th century. O'Hara's arrangement of the song for orchestra is still performed today. O'Hara also composed several operas, including "The Pipe of Desire" and "The Princess Bonnie." "The Pipe of Desire" premiered in 1910 and was a critical and commercial success. It tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a fairy and must choose between her and his mortal girlfriend. "The Princess Bonnie" premiered in 1917 and was based on a Scottish legend. It tells the story of a princess who is kidnapped by a giant and rescued by a brave knight. In addition to his operas, O'Hara composed several orchestral works, including "The Mystic Trumpeter" and "The Enchanted Garden." "The Mystic Trumpeter" is a setting of a poem by Walt Whitman and was premiered by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1912. "The Enchanted Garden" is a suite of five pieces for orchestra and was premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1921. O'Hara was also a prolific composer of choral music. He wrote several hymns and anthems, including "The Lord's Prayer" and "The Star-Spangled Banner." He also composed several cantatas, including "The Nativity" and "The Crucifixion." Throughout his career, O'Hara was recognized for his contributions to music. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1919 for his service to music during World War I. He was also awarded the Gold Medal of the National Institute of Arts and Letters in 1924. O'Hara continued to compose and perform music until his death on January 31, 1967, in Hollywood, California. He was 84 years old. Today, his music is still performed and recorded by orchestras and choirs around the world. His legacy as a composer and musician continues to inspire new generations of musicians.

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