Some interesting (and very good) mandolin picking: https://youtu.be/BWxs1cZEwTY

A new project: mini guitar to octave mandolin

A Luna brand travel guitar - 22.5 inch scale - which I bought some years ago for 20 bucks - its cracked back and brace were easily fixed with Elmer's glue.  Now planning to convert it to an octave mandolin, using amazingly cheap eBay tailpiece and tuners.  I'll post again when it's done.

7-8 Players for St Mary's December 10, 12:30pm?

An audience member from Parkshores asked if we had 7-8 members to play for 45-50 minutes at a church lunch, December 10th.  He has a Greek carol he'd like played but is leaving the rest of the set open, perhaps Christmas Carols.

Is anyone interested in playing in a sept/oct/ish-tet at Saint Mary's?

Kentucky Mandolin For Sale

At the risk of a game of telephone, a friend of the orchestra would like some help selling her Kentucky mandolin.

Allison:

Hello from Iceland, Jonathan! I’m about to start my wilderness horseback tour and can’t follow up on this, so I’m wondering if you’d post the information below about a friend’s mandolin for sale onto MMO’s blog. I won’t be back until August 12; the best response contact is the seller at her email address: Joan Cochran, joanlcochran@gmail.com

Joan:

I have a Kentucky FM-250 mandolin I bought from Homestead Pickin Parlour in 2014 but I've not caught the bug to learn to play it well - time to part ways.
Through your mandolin orchestra, could I list it for sale?
Mandolin/strap/canvas case were $450 five years ago.  I'd like to sell if for around $350. It's in perfect condition; not played much.

Rain Contingency for Today

It looks possible that this afternoon will be stormy.  The Loring Park Art Fair directors have asked that we defer any decisions to cancel until noon today.

At noon I will email the group with the prognosis and whether the orchestra is on the hook to perform.  In the event that our performance is cancelled, I will also call all members who have RSVPd affirmative, using the phone numbers on the roster.

Thanks for your patience,

Jonathan

Rehearsal attendance

Next week, July 22, is the last rehearsal before our Loring Park concert. After that, August 5 will be the last rehearsal before our Edina, Harriet, and Como Concerts. In recent weeks, various factors have conspired against rehearsal attendance. On July 15, we were under 50%. If we're going to be ready for our summer concerts, we need to have our players in attendance at rehearsals.  Please make attendance a priority on July 22 and August 5.

If your status for any upcoming concerts has changed, please update that information at https://rsvp.mmo.mando.land

Performance Dates

I am booking the Orchestra to play Sunday November 17 at the Landmark Center at 1pm.

I'm also looking to book a performance at Parkshore Place this Fall one of

• Tuesday, October 22, 6:30pm
• Tuesday, November 19, 6:30pm
• Tuesday, December 3, 6:30pm

Would orchestra members either log into https://rsvp.mmo.mando.land or email me with availability, please?

thanks,

Jonathan

Mandolin Band Referral for September 14th Party

Someone called MMO/me this week asking if we could recommend a band with strong mandolin and vocal components for a party.

"The date we are looking at for the party is September 14th.  Ideally, we would pay around $1500 for the right group. Female and male vocalists would be a major bonus, as well as a willingness to allow and include guests to sing for a song or two. 

We are hosting the party in our home in the Kenwood neighborhood of Minneapolis."

I thought I'd forward along the interest and see if any orchestra members had recommendations or inclination to play.

Jonathan

Portable 360º Swivel Stool for musicians

Hi all,
Some of you have asked where I got my handy swivel stool, which sets up easily and comes with a travel bag. The manufacturer is sold out and the price on Amazon is over $50, but I found it for $37 on Walmart.com. So FYI, here it is:

GCI Outdoor 360º Stool

Hello all,

I forgot announce last practice that my dance company, the Ethnic Dance Theatre, is having their concerts next weekend (May 17-19).  I'm playing my ethnic string instrument, the tamburitza, in the orchestra for the first few suites, and I'm dancing in several other numbers!  We have a wonderful guest group of vocalists, a very talented orchestra, and our costumes are gorgeous with several authentic pieces.  Early ticket pricing ends today.

I would love to see some of you in the audience!

Three concerts (all same show):

• Friday,     May 17 at 7:30
• Saturday, May 18 at 7:30
• Sunday,   May 19 at 2:00

at the EM Pearson Theater at Concordia University on Hamline Ave.

Write-up from the Ethnic Dance Theatre's website:

Come with us as we travel the Balkan peninsula, which sits at the crossroads of the two continents–Europe and Asia, and thus, at the crux of two major religions, Christianity and Islam. We begin our journey with dances from a regional along the Kupa river in Croatia. MILA Vocal Ensemble completes the Croatian set with a bouquet of songs. We make our way south through Albania, then enjoy dances from Serbia and neighboring Romanian to round out the first half. After the intermission we continue heading south on the peninsula to Macedonia followed by a set of songs by MILA from the Sephardic Jews. Dances from Greece are followed by a musical set by the EDT Orchestra from Turkey. Dance traditions from Bosnia are followed by the closing sets of Bulgarian songs by MILA and a Bulgarian dances by the EDT dancers.

There will be a brief Question & Answer opportunity after each show along with teaching of simple folk dances on stage with the accompaniment of the EDT Orchestra.

Tickets:

Ethnic Dance Theatre is offering Early Bird pricing through May 10th. The discounted prices are Adults $25, Seniors/Students $20 and Children Under 12 at $10. This is a significant savings as the full prices are Adults $35, Seniors/Students $25 and Children Under 12 at $15.  Go here for tickets.

Congrats on making it all the way to the end - you deserve treats at practice on Monday.

~ Tiffany