19^th Annual (May!) Mandolin Festival & Concert, May 15-16

Concord Community Music School continues its spring tradition of bringing together the best players and teachers in the mandolin world, with a virtual 2-day Mandolin Festival and Concert the weekend of May 15 & 16, 2021 – rescheduled from the original March dates.

The 19th Annual May Mandolin Festival features teacher/performers Marla Fibish, Baron Collins-Hill, and Music School faculty member David Surette, with special guest vocalist Susie Burke. This virtual (via Zoom) event offers group workshops on a variety of topics, jam sessions, and a Saturday evening concert.

Last year, the Music School was fortunate to host the 18^th Annual Mandolin Festival in Concord, with some 50 participants from across New England and Canada, just a week before the pandemic brought in-person events to a halt.

Presenting the Mandolin Festival virtually this year will allow for participants from all over the country and all over the world, without the limiting factors of travel and cost, so we are hoping to have a record turnout of past participants and new mando-folk from all over! Workshop details and class schedule may be found at tinyurl.com/march-mandolin-2021. On both Saturday and Sunday, there will be an epic Group Tunes jam, featuring highlights from all the tunes participating mandolinists have learned and played over the last 19 years. (No experience necessary; tune list will be sent out upon registration.)

On Saturday night, May 15, at 7:30 pm (ET), join Marla, Baron, David, and Susie for a bravura representation of the music of the mandolin at the Mandolin Festival Concert. Marla Fibish brings her American-born, Irish-accented mandolin style back to our festival, where she was a big hit a few years ago. Marla is internationally renowned as a top Irish-style mandolin player.

Baron Collins-Hill is a versatile and highly-skilled “all rounder,” a great player on the mandolin, tenor guitar, and tenor banjo, and the guiding light behind the website mandolessons.com, which provides top-notch mandolin instruction with a series of impeccably produced videos focusing on traditional music.

And David Surette, founder and artistic director of the Mandolin Festival, will be joined by his long-time musical partner (and wife) Susie Burke, for a set of tunes and songs spotlighting their take on the classic folk duo, featuring Susie's straight-from-the heart vocal style with David's graceful touch on the mandolin and cittern.

With this year’s concert being virtual, we have the opportunity to invite as many folks as wish to attend, and to offer tickets on a Pay What You Will basis (click here to reserve your spot). In the past, the ticket price for this concert was $20; this year, we welcome ticket donations for the May 15 concert at any level to support the Music School’s outstanding faculty and programming. Please join us for what promises to be a magical night of music.

For more information, to register for the Festival workshops, or to reserve concert tickets, please visit the Music School’s website at ccmusicschool.org or call 603-228-1196.

Please add your voice to the chorus of believers in the Music School's future by considering a donation. We deeply appreciate your confidence and support. Thank you!!