Canberra Mandolin Orchestra
Welcome to the Canberra Mandolin Orchestra
Formed in 2003, the CMO brings together players of mandolin, mandola, mandocello, guitar and bass. It keeps alive the rich tradition of the mandolin groups that emerged in the first couple of decades of the 20th century. The CMO's repertoire includes original Australian compositions, ritzy tunes from the dawn of the jazz age, light classics, film themes, world folk music and popular tunes.
The orchestra meets every Monday evening at the Hellenic Club in Moore St, Civic. New players are always welcome and we provide tuition at the same venue each Monday (see under "Rehearsals").
We can also provide instrument loans for beginners.
PIAF TO MOUSKOURI - An Afternoon of Cabaret Music
**SOLD OUT**
**SOLD OUT**
Coming up very soon in late June, on a Sunday afternoon at the Polish White Eagle Club in Turner, we are very pleased to present the first of our CMO Winter Series concerts, featuring the vivacious and engaging multilingual chanteuse Theodora Volti, as she takes us all on a journey through some classic cabaret tunes made famous by stars such as Edith Piaf and Nana Mouskouri.
Theodora sings in Greek, Italian, French and English. She will be accompanied by the delicate tones of mandolins, accordion, bass and guitars, played by the The Canberra Mandolin Orchestra, conducted by Michael Hardy.
We welcome you to come along and enjoy a selection of such favourites as La Vie en Rose, La Mer, Besame Mucho, Let's Go for a Walk to the Moon, and many more. At the glorious 'Polo' - the Polish Club in Turner - come along to enjoy an afternoon of entertainment, and there's also a good selection of drinks and nibbles from the bar and kitchen.
Bookings via Eventbrite:
CMO at the National Folk Festival
The Canberra Mandolin Orchestra was very excited to have been invited to play at the Nash again in 2024! We all managed to get calluses on our calluses, and meet lots of other musicians along the way, hope you saw us there!
We gave a concert of our own repertoire on the Monday, but also performed elsewhere on all four days over the Easter festival:
This included a daily 'promenade' performance twice a day as part of incidental roving entertainment, where we walked along leading people Pied Piper style from the Budawang to Fitzroy venues, with some movers and shakers from the 'Gold Dancers' providing some more spectacle as we played.
We also participated in workshops of Rebetiko (Greek Blues) Music with Con Kalamaris and his musicians, leading up to involvment with a 'Glendi' festival of dance on the Sunday evening.
Looking forward to doing it all again next year!
See the festival web site for more information.
CMO at the National Multicultural Festival
The Canberra Mandolin Orchestra performed at the National Multicultural Festival 2024, Saturday 17 February, 1040-1120
https://www.multiculturalfestival.com.au/festival-program/
CMO with Theodora Volti at the 2023 National Multiclutural Festival
At the NMF in 2024, we were delighted once again to feature well-known vocalist Theodora Volti, under the baton of our esteemed conductor Michael Hardy. We played a selection of world music from our latest album, ‘Hopes, Dreams and Memories’.
The album is dedicated to the thousands of migrants who came from Europe, the British Isles, Asia and other parts of the world to settle in Australia and in particular the Canberra region and features traditional and popular music from many of these countries. A true reflection of multiculturalism in practice!
CANBERRA MANDOLIN ORCHESTRA @ 2023 NATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL
CMO @ NFF 2023.mp4Hellenic Club in the City
Covid-19
Our rehearsals are conducted at the Hellenic Club and we are there consistent with their Covid-19 Management Plan. Our responsibility is to maintain safe social distancing while we are setting up and rehearsing. Members are also reminded to comply with the Club's requirements including signing in.
During this period we have foregone our practice of member-supplied supper as an additional measure to reduce our risk.
Members are of course requested to STAY AWAY if they are unwell. We are now recording our rehearsal sessions so that members can "play along" with the complete rehearsal at a time that suits them.
BEGINNER SESSIONS ! ARE YOU INTERESTED IN:
Improving your skills on the mandolin, mandola, mandocello, bass or guitar?
Playing a wide range of musical styles from folk, ethnic and classical music through to ragtime?
Playing and practising with a group of like-minded musicians who enjoy playing together?
Performing in concerts at a variety of musical venues?
The Canberra Mandolin Orchestra is keen to encourage new musicians to join its ranks. Why not come along and be part of an enthusiastic, well known and popular group of musicians?
We conduct beginner sessions for prospective and new members. You'll get expert guidance on playing skills, repertoire, sight reading and more.
For more information call Ian Bull on 02 6231 5974.
Rehearsals
During the period of stringent COVID-19 restrictions we at first did not do face-to-face rehearsals and later moved to an arrangement of the orchestra and beginners' classes being on different days, at different times, to accommodate the early closing time of our venue the Hellenic Club of Canberra in the City.
We have again brought these two weekly events back together, and so each Monday our beginners' classes are at 17:30 and the orchestra rehearsal will be 19:00-21:00 on Mondays also.
Beginner sessions are being held. New players welcome at any level. Call our student coordinator at 6231 5974
PREVIOUS CONCERTS
for the CMO in 2022 and 2023
The CANBERRA MANDOLIN ORCHESTRA
and
The Monaro Folk Society with Dance Delights
are pleased to present
Settlers, Sheds & Ballrooms
Sunday 30 October 2022, 2 - 5pm
A feast of social dance music and demonstrations from Australia and around the world.
Come and join the Canberra Mandolin Orchestra in a celebration of international dance music to be performed at the Folk Dance Hall, 114 Maitland St, Hackett.
Settlers, Sheds and Ballrooms will see the massed mandolins of different sizes play a wide variety of well known Australian dance music common to Australian woolsheds and ballrooms from colonial times to the 20th century, as well as dance music brought to Australia from various migrant groups.
Dancers from 'Dance Delights and Friends' will demonstrate moves and steps and audience members will be welcome to join in the fun dancing.
The mandolin orchestra will be directed by Canberra composer/conductor Michael Hardy and will include some concert pieces from across the world including waltzes, mazurkas, tangos, polkas and folk dances.
The Orchestra's recently completed first CD will also be available for purchase. It features music from the communities that came to Australia in the post-war period from around the world.
The Canberra Mandolin Orchestra was formed in 2003 and brings together players of mandolin, mandola, mandocello, guitar, and also electric and double bass. It works like a string orchestra except that mandolin family instruments are plucked and not bowed.
Tickets for the Canberra Mandolin Orchestra's Settlers, Sheds and Ballrooms concert were $20 and $15 available at the door
Canberra Mandolin Orchestra presents Dancing Feet
Saturday 23 April from 2 until 4pm
Step up to a world of mandolins and Dancing Feet!
Come and join the Canberra Mandolin Orchestra in a celebration of international dance music to be performed at the Folk Dance Hall, 114 Maitland St, Hackett.
Dancing Feet will see the massed mandolins of different sizes play a wide variety of dance music from across the world including waltzes, mazurkas, tangos, polkas and folk dances.
Dancers from 'Dance Delights and Friends' will demonstrate moves and steps and audience members will be welcome to join in the fun dancing.
The mandolin orchestra will be directed by Canberra composer/conductor Michael Hardy and will include some concert pieces.
The Orchestra's recently completed first CD will be available for purchase. It features music from the communities that came to Australia in the post-war period from around the world.
The Canberra Mandolin Orchestra was formed in 2003 and brings together players of mandolin, mandola, mandocello, guitar and double bass. It works like a string orchestra except that mandolin family instruments are plucked and not bowed.
Tickets for the Canberra Mandolin Orchestra's Dancing Feet concert were $20 and $15 available at the door
FAME Festival - 2024 in Brisbane!
The main activity of FAME (Federation of Mandolin Ensembles) Festivals is a week of intensive rehearsing in preparation for the performance of a concert for the public on the Saturday evening before the Festival concludes. Interspersed with rehearsals of the Festival Orchestra are social events and outings, in-house concerts in which the various orchestras or small ad hoc ensembles or individuals perform for the other Festival participants. Jam sessions are known to happen at sporadic intervals.
In 2024 the FAME Festival will be held mid-year in Brisbane, (rather than the usual January dates), from Sunday 30th June to Sunday 7th July 2024, at The Women's College, on the Queensland University campus in St Lucia. The conductor for the FAME Festival Orchestra will be Richard Charlton, well known guitarist and composer of some wonderful music for mandolin orchestras. He has been commissioned to compose a new work for the Brisbane FAME Festival.
The Brisbane FAME Festival Concert will be staged at the beautiful St John's Cathedral on Saturday 6th July.
If you are interested in attending next year's festival, contact the CMO!
https://www.fame.asn.au/next-fame-festival.html
FAME Festival Concert in Perth 2023
Saturday 14 January 2023, Perth Modern School, Beasley Hall, Roberts Road, Subiaco
CMO CD sales now on the web site
Couldn't make it to our concert?
Want to compare how we sounded live to in the studio?
Want to hear the great voices of Moya, Worldly Goods and Theodora again?
Can't get enough of these great tunes?
Well now you can buy the CD direct from this web site.
Just click on Hopes, Dreams and Memories and it will take you to the CD sales page.