What’s New With The Springfield Mandolin Orchestra

2015 was a major year for the Springfield Mandolin Orchestra to be playing out, having performed publicly at The Arts Block, Porter-Phelps-Huntington house, UMASS Renaissance Center, and the South Hadley Town Hall, plus various community events and private engagements. During that time, the orchestra performed Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Vivaldi’s La Folia, J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto #3, Anthony Holborne’s Suite, and more. This year, the orchestra has been working on a new repertoire, which includes Mozart’s Flute Quartet in D Major (no flutes hired out for this piece), and some original works by Michael Bell and Joseph Marcello, that haven’t been previously performed in public.

After much upheaval with rehearsal and class space, Springfield Mandolin Orchestra’s Founder and President negotiated with the First Congregational Church in South Hadley to rent their facility for rehearsals and classes. A performance of the Springfield Mandolin Orchestra is scheduled for Saturday, March 4th 2017 in the Sanctuary. The Monday night advanced mandolin group class meets there, as well as Students of the Sweet Music Studio. The entire mandolin orchestra meets there every first and third Saturday afternoon at 2pm for rehearsal. The orchestra is made up of group class members and area musicians not part of the weekly class. Members of a Providence, RI-based mandolin ensemble, L’Esperance, directed by Josh Bell, also perform with the orchestra.

The Springfield Mandolin Orchestra currently has bookings for private performances, February 12, 2017 at Loomis Village in South Hadley and March 25, 2017 at the Soldiers Home in Holyoke. If you would like to book the orchestra for your private or public event, please contact Mr. Adam Sweet at 413-224-8600.

The orchestra is always looking for new members. If you play mandolin, or any other instrument in the mandolin family, and can read music, you are welcome to join. There is no cost to be part of the orchestra, just the ability to commit to the first and third Saturday of each month for rehearsal. Please contact us through the website (www.mandolinorchestra.org) for more information on joining the mandolin orchestra or for taking lessons in mandolin or violin.