March 19, 2012
Knoxville gains valuable musician

By Jeaneane Payne

Talented musician, Conny Ottway, joins Knoxville community. Image courtesy of Conny Ottway.

Knoxville's culture has become richer with the addition of Constance (Conny) Nagy Ottway who recently joined our community. This popular violinist, fiddler, guitarist, and mandolin player was a private music instructor in Murray, Kentucky for over 32 years, specializing in violin/fiddle, guitar, mandolin and viola lessons.

Ottway was a music performer for over 40 years in classical orchestras and ensembles, weddings, bluegrass bands, Scottish and Irish events, church music, funerals, Folk festivals, local nursing homes and retirement centers, and Civil War programs.

This accomplished musician lives in Farragut and is very active in the 40-member orchestra at First Baptist Concord. She is currently teaching in a Studio in her home.

Ottway has a Bachelor of Music degree from Murray State University and has performed in the Purdue Symphony Orchestra at Purdue University.

"Coming from a family of music teachers and musicians, I have been very involved with music all of my life," said Ottway. "I have enjoyed teaching music lessons to all ages; the youngest I've taught was my own daughter, who was 23 months old when she began, and the oldest I've taught was an 86-year-old gentleman. My belief is that music should be enjoyed and shared, so I have tried to organize an average of 10-12 performance opportunities for my students each year. Entering competitions in the classical and traditional music worlds is a great motivator for my students, and I try to encourage them to enter as many as possible. I'm proud to report that I've had many students win competitions, be proficient songwriters, and even obtain college degrees in music."

Ottway is a member of the Knoxville Scottish Music Club, Anchors of Joy nursing home outreach, and the Knoxville Civil War Roundable group. She frequently performs at various cultural events in the Knoxville and surrounding areas. She has also co-written and recorded a Bluegrass Fiddle Book with Steve Kaufman,

For more information on Ottway, you may visit jessicaottway.com/connyweb.

Published March 19, 2012