Accolades:

As Chair of the Pedagogy Weekend, I can share that everyone I spoke with was extremely pleased and motivated by John O'Conor! It was a terrific weekend and one that we will long remember.
Dr. Carol Ann Barry, NCTM
Raleigh Piano Teachers Association – Pedagogy Weekend (NC)
September 21-23, 2023

John O'Conor's residency here at the Southeastern Piano Festival was a rousing success, and Caroline, Tayloe and all of us associated with it were thrilled to have him here.
His recital was a perfect gem, a performance I'll long treasure in the memory, and garnered a big standing ovation from our capacity audience. His masterclass was wonderful and I know all the 20 gifted young pianists in attendance were particularly enlightened by his comments. (For that matter, every single phrase he played in his recital was a masterclass in itself for those young pianists in attendance---and us older ones as well!) He was also the perfect person (with his vast experience judging huge international competitions) to chair our jury for our end-of-week competition, which went very smoothly.

Beyond that of course, he was just a delightful person to have around for a few days, Tayloe of course knew him well already but for most of us it was our first chance to spend time with John, and everyone (myself included) was of course delighted by his gentlemanly and friendly manner, his sense of humor, his unpretentious charm. As I'm sure he does everywhere he goes, he made new friends among the other guest artists that were his colleagues on the festival and jury.

All of us associated with SEPF could not have been more thrilled with his visit, in all its aspects. Thank you so much for your help in putting together his residency here.

Phillip Bush
Associate Professor of Piano and Chamber Music
School of Music
University of South Carolina

June 15-17, 2023

I second all of Phillip’s comments, John was his extraordinary self, yet again, and I was so pleased and honored that we could finally make it work for him to be here. He embodies, so beautifully, what we value most about our Piano Festival, and I hope we can have him back again soon.

Dr. C. Tayloe Harding, Jr.
Dean, School of Music
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208

John O’Conor delivered a most mesmerizing recital and masterclass at Flagstaff Piano Festival, and I am very grateful to him for accepting my invitation.

Silvan Negruțiu, DMA
Director of Piano Studies, Kitt School of Music
Artistic Director, Flagstaff Piano Festival
Northern Arizona University

June 29-30, 2023
"Truly fantastic ... shows mastery with his subtle handling of subito piano and as much color as possible from his instrument."
 American Record Guide, May/June 2017
Review of 'Beethoven: Diabelli Variations'

"Offers a spontaneous and fluid performance that ranges in expression from humorous and mercurial ... to profound and awe-inspiring."
 All Music Guide, 2017
Review of 'Beethoven: Diabelli Variations'

"O'Conor's great pianistic gifts come through. His Haydn is focused, thoughtful, clean, transparent ... O'Conor's performance is thrilling, played to perfection."
Fanfare Magazine, 2017
Review of 'Haydn: Sonatas'

"This exceptional CD ... anyone who is impressed with O'Conor's Beethoven disc would do well to consider this a fitting companion and give it repeated hearings."
All Music Guide, 2017
Review of 'Haydn: Sonatas'

"Piano virtuosity can take a variety of forms, but one of the rarest belongs to John O'Conor ... [he] represents a vanishing tradition that favors inner expression and atmosphere over showmanship and bravura ... in technically complex passages he goes the extra measure to find the ideas behind the flurry of notes."
Chicago Tribune

"John O'Conor must be ranked high indeed ... this was exquisite playing - lucid, poised and cool; he gave himself to the expression of this graceful music. This was a memorable concert."
New York Times

"Impeccable technique and musicality ... it would be hard to imagine better performances."
Sunday Times (London)

"O'Conor brought real poetry to his recital of late-period Beethoven ... incisive, even visionary projections that drove to the heart of the musical matter. O'Conor led us with a lucid touch and a keen intellect ... this artist has the kind of flawless touch that makes an audience gasp."
Washington Post

"John O'Conor is a pianist of unbounding sensitivity, and these recordings bear witness to his beguilingly eloquent style."
Gramophone

"It was a pleasure to hear his honest and beautiful presentation of the music - a fine opportunity to enjoy his grace, precision and utter commitment."
  Isthmus (Madison, WI)

"John O'Conor has long been viewed as one of the greatest pianists of our time, and his expressive touch has lost nothing of the perfection that first launched him to fame over 40 years ago."
  Madison Magazine