ALL VIVALDI PROGRAM

7 Mandolins - Harpsichord - Bass
Guitar and Singers
Admission $10 Children 12 & under $5
Wine & hors d'oeuvres can be purchased

Mandolin Ensemble Delights Audiences

The very popular Apollo Mandolin Ensemble, a virtuoso group of international musicians, returns for their second year at the Alcouffe Community Center on Saturday, October 15 with an all-Vivaldi program. Ten musicians make up this exceptional musical group, playing a unique variety of instruments.

There are three mandolins, two mandolas, and a mandolin cello, all round-backed instruments hand crafted in Germany and Italy. In addition there will be guitar, cello, double bass, and electric harpsichord. It is a rare treat to hear some of these unusual instruments playing together.

The mandola is actually the ancestor of today´s mandolin, and is set to a lower tone in the same way that a viola is set lower than a violin. Similarly, the mandolin cello, also called mandocello, is to the mandolin what the cello is to the violin.

The group has performed together for seven years under the direction of Lead Mandolin, Nikolay Shpurik, who transcribes the music from its original orchestration (usually strings) to the instruments of the ensemble. The players come from a diversity of cultures, including the United States, Russia, and Ireland. Musical director Shpurik and harpsichord/pianist Marina Swales are graduates of Music Conservatories in Novosibirsk, Russia.

Doors open for this special concert at 5:00 pm. Wine and hors d´oeuvres will be available for purchase both before and following the music.

Admission is $10 and $5 for children 12 and under. For more information, call 692-2476.