John O’s ode to Ireland

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Courtesy photo John Ogrodowoczyk – also known as “John O” – will headline "John O Sings."

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courtesy photo The McGonagle Dancers will perform Irish dances.

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Courtesy photo John Ogrodowoczyk – also known as “John O” – will headline "John O Sings."

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IF YOU GO:

John O Sings

WHERE: The Amato Center for the Performing Arts, 56 Mont Vernon Street, Milford.

WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 6.

TICKETS: $25 adults; $20 seniors; $15 juniors (ages 12-17); children younger than 12 are free. Tickets for the show only, without the dinner, are $12 for all ages, 10 and older.

INFORMATION: Call 672-7021 or visit www.johnosings.com.

MILFORD – Well, March is here, and that means our thoughts turn to the Emerald Isle, with its histories, fables, food and music. A dedicated troupe of musicians will be celebrating everything Irish on Saturday, March 6, with the “John O Sings” show, to be presented at the Amato Center for the Performing Arts.

Co-sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, the evening will include a corned beef and cabbage dinner and two sets of music, performed by more than 60 players.

John Ogrodowoczyk – also known as “John O” – fell in love with Irish music by the way of locally acclaimed tenor Frank Patterson.

“I saw him sing one night, and loved his technically perfect delivery,” Ogrodowoczyk said. “The more I thought about it, the more I realized that was something I could do.” Ogrodowoczyk went backstage after the show and met Patterson, and a friendship developed, eventually leading to a situation where, after Patterson’s passing, John traveled to Ireland to sing at his wake.

It was Patterson’s influence that directly led to John releasing his first CD, “Ireland in My Heart,” in 2004. Now, he organizes concerts celebrating Irish culture and spotlighting the talents of local young musicians. “I’m in my 10th year of doing this,” he said. “It’s been a tremendous opportunity to help out the community.”

Central to John’s passion is his commitment to the Nancy O Children’s Performing Arts Fund, named in honor of his daughter, who died in 1994 from complications of asthma.

Nancy was a talented dancer, singer and musician who worked in many stage productions, including playing the leading role in the Nashua Actorsingers production of “42nd Street.” Additionally, she loved to teach children at the Academy of Movement in Nashua, and even brought music and dance into her curriculum as a French teacher at Souhegan High School.

The fund, named in her honor, keeps her spirit alive by offering disadvantaged children the chance to experience music, theater and dance.

“This is what gave me the passion to sing,” Ogrodowoczyk said. “Supporting the performing arts for young people is integral to everything we’re doing here.”

The concert at the Amato Center promises to be an old-fashioned knees-up, with lots of old Irish ballads and musical pieces, served up by a smorgasbord of talented newcomers and veterans. The McGonagle Irish Step Dancers will perform in their beautiful traditional costumes; The Youth and Community Fiddle Orchestra will present a resounding program of jigs and reels; The Souhegan Valley Chorus, featuring director Jennifer Erdody, will perform; the Shenanigans will present its brand of foot-tapping tunes; Carol Yetto will play piano, accompanied by her daughter, Caterina, on violin; and Ogrodowoczyk’s son, David, will come down from Vermont to play mandolin. If that’s not enough, Annie and Sue Reilly will be there, with their Broadway kids, and Fiona Graham will regale the audience with her magical harp.

In the middle of that, Ogrodowoczyk will get to sing a few songs of his own.

“I’ll be doing mainly the ballads,” he said. “‘Danny Boy,’ ‘Rose of Tralee,’ things like that. The thing is, this used to be all about me. Now it’s about the younger performers. I want to give them their own venue and a place where they can shine and show their talents. It’s my gift to the community.”