Celebrating a decade since its unique revival, Pittsburgh Mandolin Orchestra hosted an anniversary concert with a new album release event on Saturday, September 22, 2012, at Synod Hall in Oakland. Our latest album, “From Faraway Shores” is a symbol of the cooperative and successful work of the entire orchestra—in a language that knows no boundaries and yet is understood by all cultures. The album was available to the public for the first time at the concert. The concert paid homage to the very first Pittsburgh Mandolin Orchestra concert; and some of the original members were there to performed a few tunes with us—including the founder of the orchestra Alan Epstein. The guest artists who performed at the first concert—Allegheny Drifters and The Great American Gypsies (Charley Rappaport and Joe Kovach)— helped us celebrate a decade together by performing guest sets at this concert as well.

Pittsburgh Mandolin Orchestra

Allegheny Drifters

The Great American Gypsies

We opened our 10th concert season with the Pittsburgh Mandolin Orchestra headlining a Mother’s Day Concert on Saturday, May 12, 2012, at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Highland, in McCandless, PA, with Charley Rappaport conducting. The program featured folk, classical, and world music, compositions by modern composers written specifically for the mandolin family of instruments, as well as spirited Eastern European Klezmer dance tunes. “Bolero”, by Raffaele Calace, a mandolin solo with orchestra accompaniment, was premiered, with 17 year old Gordon Neidinger as soloist. Gordon also composed the cadenza which was also performed for the first time.

The concert featured the Jerry Grcevich Tamburitza Orchestra. Mr. Grcevich is one of the foremost tamburitza musicians in the world, performing with tamburitza groups throughout the United States and Europe. In 2005, he was the first Western Pennsylvania artist to receive the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship, the nation's highest award for traditional arts. The tamburitza is a traditional stringed instrument originating in the country that used to be named Yugoslavia and was popularized in the United States by the Duquesne University Tamburitzans.

This concert also featured Riversong String Ensemble, a small ensemble that consists of our orchestra members.

This year, we had five Christmas concerts in the greater Pittsburgh region and Weirton, WV.

Our first concert was at First Christian Church in Weirton, WV, on December 4. This was our 5th Christmas concert at this church, and we felt all welcomed by the audience. After the concert, the PMO joined the audience for a reception. It was great to get to talk to some of the audiences.

Our next concert was on December 5 at the PPG Wintergarden. The place was filled with light and people looking at the displays and enjoying the music. The venue provides a good opportunity for the PMO to introduce its music to people who have not heard us before.

We then had a private performance at Concordia Lutheran Ministries. This was our third performance at this retirement home, and we had a large enthusiastic audience again. We feel honored to be asked to return to Concordia.

We then performed at St. John’s Lutheran Church on December 11. We were all excited to play our holiday concert in our rehearsal home.

Our last Christmas concert was at our former rehearsal location, Mifflin Avenue United Methodist Church. We were happy to be back with old friends in this beautiful church

In addition to the PMO, which performed many familiar Christmas carols and other Holiday tunes, this year’s Christmas Concerts featured three small ensembles, The Gordon Neidinger Trio with EmilyMohr performed a bluegrass holiday standard “Christmas Time’s A-Comin” by Benjamin "Tex" Logan. The Riversong String Ensemble performed "Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella", "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth", and "Soul Cake." And, the Ishizakis played an English carol “What Child is This?” by William Chatterton Dix.

In addition, a highlight of this year’s concert was the PGHMO Singers, a group of orchestra members and a few of their family members, who sang Christmas carols with the orchestra.

PPG Wintergarden

St. John’s Lutheran Church

St. John’s Lutheran Church (PGHMO Singers)

First Christian Church in Weirton, WV

November 12, 2011 (Saturday)

The PMO played a concert at Westminster Presbyterian Church in the South Hillls as part of their Westminster Music & Arts series. In this concert, with the request of the organizer, we performed music from different cultural traditions, including Germany, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, England, Czech, Poland, Russia, Italy, Israel, Eastern Europe.

In this performance, we had a great opportunity to perform with special guest artists, Zeke Hutchison (Mandolin) and Dean Shumaker (Guitar). They played “Mood Indigo” and “Take the A Train” by Duke Ellington. For their last piece, our member Gordon joined them and performed a medley of three bluegrass tunes—“Apple Blossom,” “Forked Deer,” and “Big Mon.”

This concert also features two small ensembles that consist of our orchestra members. The Riversong String Ensemble (Carol, Cheryl, David C., John, Judy, Mark and Ted) played three traditional pieces: “Scotland the Brave,” After the Battle of Aughrim,” “Shores of Ireland.” David T. and Jason—Mandolin-Mandola Duo—played “Lord Inchiquin” by Turlough O’Carolan.

Charley and Gordon also played “Shall I Go Down to the Stream” on Domras with the orchestra.
The entire concert was a great success. We are really grateful for the opportunity to play this concert for the Westminster Music & Arts series.

October 23, 2011 (Sunday)

The PMO played a concert at Wallace Memorial Church in Greentree as part of their Wallace Presents Concert Series. Even though the Steelers where playing at the same time, over 100 people came to attended the concert instead of watching the game.

It was a real pleasure sharing the concert with the Hillsdale Brass. The group did a selection of about six tunes, playing a sampling of music from around the world. At the end of the concert Hillsdale Brass joined the PMO for “Under the Double Eagle.”

This concert features three small ensembles that consist of our orchestra members. Jason and David T. played “Lord Inchiquin” by Turlough O’Carolan. The Riversong String Ensemble performed three pieces.  Carol, Cheryl, David C., John, Judy, Mark and Ted. played “Give Me Your Hand” by Rory Dall O’Cathain. “Moondance” by Van Morrison, and “Somewhere Over the Raimbow” by Harold Arlen. Finally, the Gordon Neidinger Trio performed “Csárdás” by Vittorio Monti.

Charley and Gordon also played “Shall I Go Down to the Stream” on Domras with the orchestra. The PMO is really lucky to have such wonderful musicians.

The entire concert was a great success. We are really grateful for the opportunity to play this concert for the Wallace Presents Concert Series.

 

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.