Duo partners Patrick O'Brien and Dennis Cinelli bring a freshness and spontaneity to their performances. Their programs include rarely performed treasures of the lute and guitar repertoire played on unique instruments. The duo has been presented in recitals at colleges, universities and concert series throughout North America.

An informed performer and "one of the world's leading teachers of guitar and lute" [Gramophone], Mr. O'Brien's playing has been described as "poignant and evocative" [Weser Kurier].

Mr. Cinelli is an "excellent instrumentalist" [New York Times] and a "sympathetic, attentive collaborator on lute and guitar" [New Haven Register]. "His sound was bright and mellow, ... quick and vibrant, ... Cinelli displayed particularly masterful technique" [The Montclarion].

"Pair strike varied chords! O'Brien and Cinelli played remarkable duets ... attractive... flashy, infectious..."
Richmond Times-Dispatch

"Patrick O'Brien and Dennis Cinelli bring a special authenticity to their work."
The Independent

The O'Brien/Cinelli Duo's repertoire includes music for early plucked instruments with programs featuring recently discovered works as well as familiar masterpieces. Both performers have done extensive research in performance practice, studying Early Music methods and treatises. As historically informed players, Mr. O'Brien and Mr. Cinelli bring a freshness and spontaneity to their collaboration rarely heard in this repertoire. The historic replicas and authentic instruments played with gut strings allow them a wide range of dynamics, articulations.

Patrick O'Brien has taught guitar, lute and early harp in his native New York City for over thirty years. Active as a continuo lutenist, guitarist and theorboist, he has performed throughout Europe and North America with the Harp Consort, Baltimore Consort, Schola Antiqua, New York City Opera; and at the Caramoor, Spoleto and Boston Early Music festivals. He serves on the faculties of the Mannes College of Music, the State University of New York and the annual Lute Society of America's Seminar. Recently, Mr. O'Brien has made several recordings with the Harp Consort, The King's Noyse and Paul O'Dette.

Dennis Cinelli is active as a soloist and chamber musician on early guitars, lutes and mandolins. He has performed with the American Symphony, The Bach Aria Group, Artek, the American Virtuosi, Ars Antigua, the New York Collegium, Lord Chamberlain's Consort, The Ivory Consort and his own Cinelli Duo (with wife Janet, soprano) playing concerts throughout the United States and Europe. He has appeared on artists' series at Yale, Ohio, Wake Forest and Appalachian State Universities. Presented in recitals sponsored by the Philadelphia, Piedmont and Mobile Classical Guitar Societies, Mr. Cinelli has also accompanied Robert Osborne, Louise Wohlafka, Jeffrey Gall and Pino de Vittorio on lutes and early guitars.

Featured in concerts at the Festival de Wallonie in Belgium and the Caramoor and Boston Early Music Festivals, Mr. Cinelli has also spent summers teaching and performing at the International Toscanini Early Guitar Festival/Competition in Stresa, Italy and the Lute Society of America's Summer Seminar.