Greetings from the Mandolin Society of Philadelphia. We are currently preparing for a very special mandolin concert which will be held on November 5, 2017, in Bryn Mawr, PA (a suburb of Philadelphia). #

This event – which will include musicians from across the mid-Atlantic and New England regions – is part of Philadelphia ‘s “Ciao Philadelphia” initiative, a city-wide celebration of the region’s Italian-American heritage and culture. The program is endorsed by Philadelphia’s Italian consulate. The concert will be held in the beautiful, newly renovated theater at Rosemont College, in Bryn Mawr, PA.

The second half of the concert will feature the renown Carlo Aonzo Trio (including guitarist Lorenzo Piccone and bassist Luciano Puppo).

The first half of the concert will feature music from classic Italian films performed by a large (60-75 piece) mandolin and guitar orchestra. The repertoire will largely draw upon the film music of Nino Rota and Ennio Morricone, much of which is ideally suited for mandolin orchestra. In addition to the usual mandolin orchestra instrumentation - mando family instruments, classical guitar, and bass – the orchestra will also include accordion, electric guitar, marimba/vibes, hammered dulcimer, and drum set.

We are augmenting our local group (30 members of the Munier Orchestra and Philadelphia Mandolin Orchestra) with advanced and advanced-intermediate players from other mandolin orchestras. (At present, the orchestra includes 50 musicians representing 7 mandolin orchestras/ensembles from across the Northeast.)

The full orchestra – including musicians coming from out-of-town – will have a three-hour rehearsal from 9:30 AM -12:30 PM at Rosemont College the day of the concert. Lunch is be provided for all orchestra members courtesy of the Mandolin Society of Philadelphia. Orchestra members are also invited to attend a short reception immediately following the concert.

We still have openings for up to 10-15 - mandolinists, mandolists, mandocellists, and guitarists - who meet the following criteria:

Are experienced orchestra/ensemble performers who are accustomed to following a conductor.

Have strong music reading skills.

Are available to participate in both the rehearsal (9:30 AM -12:30 PM) and concert (3:00-5:00 PM) on Nov. 5.

Are able to prepare 6-7 pieces prior to Nov. 5. All sheet music will be available on-line no later than August 1.

If you meet the above criteria and are interested in performing, we would love to have you join us. To confirm your participation, simply e-mail Mark Linkins at marklinkins64@gmail.com. Please be sure to indicate your instrument (mandolin, mandola, octave mandolin, mandocello, or guitar). If you play mandola, please indicate your reading preference (alto clef or treble clef [8va]).

The concert will be a ticketed event ($20 per ticket), but orchestra members will be permitted to bring up to two guests for free.

Many of the out-of-town folks already registered for the event are planning to come to the Philly area on Saturday 4. We are planning to have an optional rehearsal late Saturday afternoon/early evening, followed by dinner at a local restaurant. (Depending on numbers, we may be able to reserve a separate dining room.)