Pittsburgh Mandolin Orchestra performed at the 25th CMSA Convention in Baltimore on Friday night, October 14th. Alan Epstein, a PMO founder, played with the orchestra during this performance. His wife Bonnie was in the audience. It was a great pleasure for the newer orchestra members to meet him. Alan had a good time playing with the orchestra and felt the orchestra’s performances have improved with time.

There was a good showing of 22 PMO members who made the trip to Baltimore and the show was very well received. Jim Bates, the conductor of the large Convention Orchestra, said we were "Great!" and Lou Chouinard, the President of the CMSA, offered his appreciation as well. This highly knowledgeable group recognized the way in which our program builds during a performance and loved that. They also mentioned that the national character of the British Isles Suite was clear to them, and that the vocal work was outstanding. The audience loved the PMO show and responded with an enthusiastic standing ovation.

The Pittsburgh Mandolin Orchestra had four participants for the whole week of the convention. Gordon, David R., Charley, and Doug were in attendance. Gordon won second place in the 10th Annual Norman Levine CMSA Playing Contest. His performance piece was of a Charley Rappaport arrangement.

Gordon and Charley also performed at the open mic night. Charley played fretless mandolin and Gordon and Charley performed a rousing Domra number. Finally, Gordon played many of the cadenza solos in the en masse orchestra piece, "Czardas d'Amour" which was a highlight of the enmasse concert. Congratulations, Gordon on another step toward your mandolin career.

Read our member Doug’s Journal from the convention!

Gordon won 2nd place in the 10th Annual Norman Levine CMSA Playing Contest
Gordon after the CMSA En Masse Concert

We feel honored to be asked to return to Concordia Manor in Cabot, PA, for a second Concert this year. The folks at Concordia were once again very welcoming and appreciative. On a Monday night we performed for 58 people.

Speaking with several people after the show Doug received many compliments for the orchestra.  Asked what his favorite piece was, one man said, “All of them.”  He especially enjoyed the Brittanic Isles suite and felt that you could tell the national character in each piece.  O Sole Mio and Hava Nagila were also mentioned.  One lady described the PMO sound as “mellow.”

Jason and Dave’s duet of “Lord Inchiquin” was an early highlight.  Turlough O’Carolan is a favorite of many PMO members.  The duet provided variety and highlighted the mandola voice.  Thanks, Jason and Dave for interpreting the blind Irish Harpist's work.

The crowd showed great appreciation for the virtuoso performances of Gordon, Norm, and Charley.  “Lara's Theme” from Dr. Zhivago was beautifully performed.  “Cherokee Shuffle” got everyone's toes tapping.  The trio gave a remarkable show.

Everyone loved the vocalists, the wind section, and the percussion section. These special members of the orchestra always add so much variety and interest to our performances.  Thanks, Gary, Emily, Will, and Jenda!!  Great work!

Findlay Township, August 20th, 2011
This week, we went west past the airport to Clinton, PA, to perform at the Findlay Township Fair in the Woodlands. The stage was really set among the trees; with picnic tables and fair booths all around. There were families eating and children playing while they waited in line for extraordinary made-to-order balloon animals.

Our show was between the Kid's "Hay Bail Toss" Contest and the Kid's "Mini-Tractor Pull" Contest!

It was hot and sunny, but the air around the stage was cool and full of butterflies, dragonflies and bees attracted by the cotton candy.

This was the first time the PMO has ever played in this area on the border of Allegheny County. Our set up was complex in comparison to other groups at the fair. Our group is larger than most groups that play this site and initially we felt a little squeezed on that stage. The sound man worked with Charley, Gary, and Emily diligently.

One can't argue with the friendly reception the music received! The orchestra played very well. The comments were very favorable following our performance. One audience member said "People stayed to watch the whole show!" Friends of an orchestra member from the community said they liked the sound and the selections. Gary's rendition of "O Sole Mio" was very well received.

Fairgoers would notice the cases and ask about what we were playing. Some orchestra members stayed after and played for a time near the kids' train station. About 12 folks stopped by them and asked questions about the instruments and the history of the mandolin.

During this event the PMO was introduced to hundreds of people who had never heard our name before.

Pittsburgh, PA. August 13, 2011
The orchestra played a performance at the Heinz Progressive Care Center; a veteran's resident hospital.

There was a bit of confusion about where we were going to play. After we set up in the outdoor pavilion, we were told that the veterans were inside the building in the Recreation Hall. The orchestra members went to help bring the veterans down to the pavilion—chatting with them as they made their way outside.

One orchestra member, Doug said "The veteran I transported served in WW II. He was in the Air Force at the end of the conflict. That gave me a chance to tell him about my dad and 4 uncles who served in WWII. Two of my uncles were killed in that conflict—one was on the USS Juneau, a cruiser sunk by a Japanese submarine."

The concert seemed to really strike a chord with these folks. We could see that many were singing along with the  songs. They knew the words to many of the songs including "Blue Skirt Waltz" and "My Melody of Love"!  We all could hear them singing!

It was clear that many of the Vets were deeply moved by the music; waving their hands in time with the music. One vet even stood up, though he was in a wheelchair, when Gary sang "Danny Boy" and through the entire medley of the Armed Forces theme songs sung by Gary and Emily.

We felt they appreciated having our company and the music. After the concert, several vets told us that "Ose Shalom" was a great number.  They really liked "Hava Nagila", too. It was a truly fulfilling experience; chatting with and playing for these men and women who had sacrificed so much for our nation.

Pittsburgh, PA. March 19, 2011
We hosted The First Pittsburgh Mandolin Orchestra Festival on March 19, 2011 at the Auditorium of The Pittsburgh School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA).

This festival featured Orchestra Dell’ Accademe Internationale di Mandolino from Savona, Italy, conducted by Carlo Aonzo—the world renowned mandolin virtuoso, and Stefano Squarzina. They were joined in concert by the Pittsburgh Mandolin Orchestra, conducted by Charley Rappaport, and the Dayton Mandolin Orchestra from Dayton, Ohio, conducted by James Johnston.

The festival brought over 80 mandolin players to the stage for the first time ever in Pittsburgh in a program of Italian, International and American folk and classical music.

The Society also hosted a master class with Maestro Aonzo on March 20th.

Click here to read the article that appeared in the Classical Mandolin Society of America's newsletter about this event.

Providence Point, Scott Township, February 24, 2011
On February 24, we played at a new venue; Providence Point. It’s a beautiful gated retirement community off of Kane Rd. in Scott Township. It was Italian Night and the folks were celebrating having the PMO appear there. Following the concert many members of the audience shared positive comments with orchestra members. The PMO really seems to make a connection with retired folks. They like our material and respond with such enthusiasm!

The orchestra played with good energy. We had a really good concert there. We’ll hope they invite us back because it was a great place to play. Thanks, Providence Point!

Concordia Haven Independent Living Facility in Cabot, PA, February 19, 2011
For our first concert of 2011, we played a concert for the folks at Concordia Haven on February 19, 2011. It was a very nice retirement home and we had a large enthusiastic audience there. Charley and Gordon played bowl-back mandolins, Gary and Emily sang a lovely duet of Danny Boy, and we played Soldier’s Joy as an Encore. A great time was had by all. Thanks, Concordia Haven!

St. John’s Lutheran Church, December 18, 2010
We were all excited to play our first official concert in our new rehearsal home. St. John’s pastor Bill joined us for one song. Hannah and Suguru played a duet and the Baroque ensemble did a marvelous job on their two songs. But the highlight of the night was the sing-along carols. This concert was a great way to finish our Holiday concert season. It was wonderful to celebrate Christmas playing a concert with new friends in our new home.

Mifflin Ave. Methodist Church, December 11, 2010

It is always nice to play at Gary’s home church and our former rehearsal place. We were happy to be back with old friends in their beautiful church. This year’s concert was also special because the church’s choir joined us for one song. The sing along Christmas carols were a huge hit and, of course, Gary and Emily were fabulous.

Hannah and Suguru played a duet and the Baroque ensemble played two songs. Out friend Patricia joined us for one song as well. It’s so nice to have this Christmas concert with our close friends.

Carnegie Presbyterian Church,
December 9, 2010
We were scheduled to play a concert in this church in 2009. But there was a power outage because of bad weather, so the concert was cancelled. We were very happy to be able to play for these wonderful people! And this concert was unique because it was dinner theater! They had a terrific, buffet of homemade foods set up and families sat eating at long tables facing the stage while we played our joyful Christmas concert. Emily played “Christmas Time is Here” on a grand piano. It was so beautiful with the full orchestra behind her. The whole concert went well, especially the sing-along carols. The church members sang Christmas carols with enthusiasm. It was a pleasure to be a part of such a happy Christmas celebration.

Photo courtesy of church photographer Charley Brown