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Welcome to the Classical Mandolin Society of America web site!

CMSA members are found in nearly every state in the U.S. and 11 foreign countries. Our members play primarily mandolin, mandola, mandocello, guitar or bass and/or are teachers, conductors and composers of mandolin music. However, it's not even necessary to be a musician to be a member!

Since the CMSA was formed in the Fall of 1986, interest in classical mandolin has surged. It's the aim of CMSA to nurture the growth and assist those interested in pursuing the art of mandolin playing. Now, in our 21st year, CMSA remains at the forefront of things "mandolinistic" and we're pleased to invite you to join us!

This Just In...
9/29/08	This just in from member ROBERT ABRAMOWITZ: A heads-up for all who are bringing instruments to the Montreal convention from outside Canada: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) affects certain plant and animal materials crossing international borders. In our case, it means that border agents in both Canada and many other countries including the U.S. and the E.U. can seize an instrument with no possibility of return if that instrument contains ANY amount of Brazilian rosewood (most bowlback mandolins, many peghead overlays, some bridges and fingerboards); tortoise shell (some old pickguards and trim; elephant ivory (some nuts and bridge saddles); and white abalone (rare and not the same as mother of pearl, but agents might not know the difference). Tortoise shell picks, too. CITES applies not just to goods imported for sale, as many people assume, but to any goods entering a CITES country, including personal items. There are exceptions, but those need permits, a complex process. Please leave items like this at home, or understand that you take the chance of losing them forever by crossing a border with them. For more details, click HERE
9/3/08	CMSA was able to negotiate a one week extension of our negotiated room rate ($120) with the Sandman Hotel in Montreal on a "space available" basis. If you call the Sandman Hotel at 1-800-493-7303 and ask for the CMSA rate using reservation number 176000, you can still take advantage of our negotiated room rate. Convention-Goers Please Note: The Sandman Hotel is offering a room rate of $119 on-line that is slightly lower than the CMSA convention rate of $120. However, When you book on-line with this rate, you do not get the opportunity to give them the CMSA reservation number of 176000. It is critical that all attendees of the CMSA convention use this 176000 reservation number, because the $120 negotiated rate includes both a discounted room rate AND a pro-rata meeting room rental charge. CMSA has committed to filling a fixed number of "room-nights" at the Sandman. If we fail to meet this fixed number of rooms, the financial penalties to CMSA can be severe. If you have not made your reservations yet, please make them by phone with the hotel (1-800-493-7303), and tell them you are with CMSA, and give them the 176000 reservation number. If you have already made your reservations, either by phone or on-line, and have not booked under the CMSA reservation number, please call the Sandman Hotel and change your reservation. Thanks! - Lou Chouinard, CMSA PS: Would you like to find a member to share a room or ride with? Check the CMSA Classifieds (menu at the top of the page) or place your own ad! (Free to CMSA members!)
8/28/08	THE 2008 CONVENTION SCHEDULE has been posted! See the CONVENTION PAGE for more details!
8/21/08	NEW FEATURE! There's a helpful new map feature showing where our classical mandolin and guitar instructors are in the US. Give it a try HERE (Click on INSTRUCTOR MAP)
8/02/08	The 2008 Convention Registration is open NOW! A downloadable form is available HERE. Or, if you prefer, try our ON-LINE registration by clicking HERE. Please read our Convention page (HERE) for late breaking news and announcements. IMPORTANT: Early registration is only available until September 1st! Get signed up TODAY!
6/14/08	NEW FEATURE! We've begun adding selected reprints of Mandolin Journal articles to the webpage! Go HERE to have a look!
6/07/08	Well, as they say there are no strangers ... just friends you haven't met yet! HERE is a brief report of a lovely evening spent listening to mandolins in a stately old park in Germany!
4/18/08	INFORMATION REQUEST! Do any of you know the status of the Portland Mandophonic Orchestra's conductor KEN CULVER? If so, please click HERE and tick the WEBSITE box to email me with your update. Thanks!
4/07/08	Need music? No need to search all over the Web! Here is a handy collection of classical mandolin music source links, courtesy of Jim Garber. Click HERE.
4/03/08	The mandolin world is alive and humming! Here's news of the 2008 Korean Mandolin Festival! Check it out HERE.
2/06/08	Calling All Mandolin Site Webmasters: Do your members want to know about the 2008 CMSA Convention? Please add this link to your website! Click HERE.
1/18/08	IT'S FINALLY HERE! Check out the new CMSA Member Classified Ads! If you are a member, log-in and create an ad! It's free! It's cool! Sell all your music-related stuff! Otherwise, click on the new menu item "CMSA Classifieds" above and have a look at a sample ad!
1/1/08	A very Happy New Year to you all! There's a new feature to try out! Look in the menu above, it's called "Contact CMSA!" and it's a much-enhanced method to get in touch with the folks that make this organization run. We'd love to hear from you!
12/19/07	Our founder NORMAN LEVINE passed away December 7, 2007. If you would like to record a memory or anecdote about Norman, please leave a comment in our NORMAN LEVINE guestbook. Click HERE

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