CMSA 2020

Convention in the Cloud(s)

November 13-15, 2020

 While we will miss seeing everyone in-person, we look forward to seeing you in the Cloud(s).

Convention concerts, workshops, and OnDemand media will be available to registrants to watch in your own timeframe through the end of 2020.

If you did not bookmark the site, return to the email you received from CMSA 2020 and request a magic link be sent to you.

All convention content is for use by the participants only. Do not share video links.

Virtual En Masse Orchestra

The Virtual En Masse Orchestra will perform Heavens On Earth, composed in three movements (New Harmony, Equity, Shakertown) by our own John Goodin. Musicians will receive their parts with plenty of time to prepare. En Masse players will rehearse at home using video recordings by the section leaders. There will be a sectional during the convention. For the En Masse performance, we will play along from home with section leaders under the baton of conductor Dr. Jim Bates.

A composite En Masse performance video will be created by year-end with audio/video submitted by En Masse participants. Watch the “Filming YOUR Part for EnMasse” video and submit your recording by December 5, 2020.

Convention Registrants: Login to view audio and video rehearsal and play-along tracks.

www.facebook.com/PlektraMandolin

To give you a sense of what to expect from Plektra, here is Bob Margo’s 2014 review of their last CD:

“Of the various mandolin cultures in the world, Australia’s is arguably closest to that in the United States. Plektra, a seven-member ensemble, is the brainchild of Stephen Lalor, one of the leading lights of the mandolin scene down under (CMSA members who attended the recent convention (2012) in Minneapolis no doubt have fond memories of Plektra’s outstanding performances there). All of the music on the CD is arranged or composed by Lalor. The playing is highly polished with (very) tight ensemble and beautiful sound throughout. Lalor’s music is immediately appealing — harmonically straightforward, highly melodic and rhythmic with a strong Russian influence (such as the first and third movements of the “Brisbane Suite,” a highlight of the CD). Many mandolinists talk a world music game, but Lalor (and Plektra) walk the walk and play for keeps.”

Simon Mayor & Hilary James

A witty and captivating mix of folk, swing, blues and classical showstoppers” (The Guardian) spiced with Simon Mayor’s unique brand of off-beat humour and Hilary’s “honey-dripping voice”. There can’t be many performers who can slide easily from a beautifully evocative Irish ballad into a mandolin and guitar version of Handel’s Arrival of the Queen of Sheba and finish with everyone singing one of their own notoriously comic children’s songs (reminiscent of Hilaire Belloc and Flanders and Swan). This talented duo have travelled the world from Vancouver to Singapore.

Simon Mayor is one of the world’s leading mandolin virtuosos as well as a fine guitarist and fiddle player. He has had his own series on Radio 2 and an album in the Classic FM Top Ten chart, but his most thrilling moment was a journey through the square window on BBC’s Playschool!

Hilary James’ “elegant singing” (Daily Telegraph) easily crosses the great musical divides from Celtic ballads to blues and Berlioz. Her CDs have been played everywhere from Radio 1 to Latvia and Los Angeles. Described on BBC Radio 4 as “one of Britain’s finest voices” she is also famed for an unusual taste in bass instruments (she may turn up with her giant mandobass or slimline acoustic bass) and she might even manage a step-dance if the wind’s in the right direction.

www.mandolin.co.uk

Natalia Korsak (mandolin & domra)

Natalia’s practice of these two plucked string instruments allows her to put her sensitivity and virtuosity both at the service of the Slavic repertoire, as well as of classical and contemporary repertoires.

Born in Polotsk in 1983, she studied in Nikolai Maretzki’s domra class at the Higher Academy of Music in Minsk, from which she graduated in 2007.

Natalia Korsak won first prizes in several International Mandolin and Domra Competitions: Osaka (Japan / 2005), Minsk (Belarus / 2007), Vissani (Greece / 2007), Esch-sur-Alzette (Luxembourg / 2011).

Her concerts with the domrist Alexander Tsygankov, the balalaikist Andreï Gorbachev, the guitarist Roland Dyens, the pianist Jonas Vitaud, or the accordionist Richard Galliano have led her to perform in many festivals including Poland, Russia, Estonia, Spain, Germany, France, Japan, to name a few.

She is also a member of the Ensemble C Barré (contemporary creation), of 2 + 2 Quartet (dedicated to the interpretation of the music of Ricardo Sandoval), and of the Duo Korsak-Collet (mandolin / guitar and domra / guitar), with which she released in 2019 Nébuleuse , an album devoted to French music transcriptions of the 20th century (Messiaen, Dutilleux, Ravel …) and in 2020 released Echos, a collection of Russian music for domra and guitar.

Natalia also collaborates with many groups: Ensemble Orchestral Contemporain , Orchester d’Auvergne , the Soloists of the Orchester de Radio-France , Orchestra Stringendo , National Orchester de la Radio Belorusse , Ensemble Expressia de Minsk, and composers (dedicatees of works by Efrem Podgaits, Nikita Koshkin, Vincent Beer-Demander …) After having worked ten years as a soloist at the Belarusian National Philharmonic and as a domra teacher at the Higher Academy of Music in Minsk, Natalia Korsak currently teaches the mandolin at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional in Annecy and directs the Estudiantina (plectrum ensemble) there.

www.nataliakorsak.com

Dr. Jim Bates is Director of Orchestral Activities at Otterbein University in Columbus, OH and serves as an assistant conductor for the Westerville Symphony (OH) and Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras. Conducting duties in the department include leading the string orchestra and directing the early music ensemble. As a conductor and teacher, Dr. Bates is able to draw on considerable experience as an educator, performer and historian. He has served as president of Kentucky ASTA and as string coordinator for the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts. From 2010-2012 Dr. Bates chaired the Coda Bows for America Community Outreach Program for ASTA, and currently serves as president of the Ohio String Teacher’s Association.

In addition to string education he is very involved with the Classical Mandolin Society of America and period instrument performance. He is a member of the national Board of Directors of CMSA. Dr. Bates is music director of The Early Interval, Columbus’ professional early music performance ensemble and serves on the board of directors for Early Music Columbus. He has degrees from the University of Louisville (B.M.E.), a Masters in double bass performance from Indiana University, where he studied bass with Lawrence Hurst and baroque performance with Stanley Ritchie, and a Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of Kentucky. He has two sons, Ethan and Gideon.

Workshops

Sebastiaan de Grebber: Caught Right-Handed. Sebastiaan will go over the fundamentals of right hand technique, practical applications, and reasons why. Tremolo, cross-picking, arpeggios and more, in levels from basic to advanced.

Fabio Giudice: Bickford’s Mandocello. Fabio will give an overview of Zarh Myron Bickford’s method for mandocello, with special focus on the “Technical Studies” (pp. 62-70) and “Solo and Duo Playing” (pp. 88-91). using the new bass clef edition by Benjamin Ash. 

Jim Bates: Practicing as Meditation. Immerse yourself in the sensory experience of practice, allow time to be fluid and transcend your limitations. Having your instrument at hand will be useful.

Meet the Composer: A Panel Discussion with Philip DeWalt, James Kellaris, and Werner Ruecker. CMSA member Joel Hobbs will preside over a panel of three prominent composers – Phil DeWalt, James Kellaris, and Werner Ruecker. Each composer will give an overview of their works for plucked strings, with excerpts from scores and recorded performances.

Perspectives on Teaching: A Panel Discussion with Abigail Cannon, Jory Noble, and Alex Timmerman. Join CMSA co-president Sue Lesser, who will moderate a discussion by Abigail, Jory, and Alex of key current issues in the teaching of plucked strings.

Hilary James and Simon Mayor: Voice and Mandolin (and mandola …). Simon and Hilary will explore how to make every note count when there is no band, just a singer and a mandolin family instrument to accompany the voice – mandolin, mandola, or mandocello.

The Hampton Trio (Robert Margo, Beverly Davis, & Mark Davis): Chamber Ensemble Workshop. Join the Hampton Trio for a hands-on workshop on ensemble playing. The Trio will cover two pieces from their repertoire – Mark Linkins, “Fireflies” and Angel Barrios, “Danza Árabe”. Have your instrument handy and be sure to print out the sheet music in advance, so you can play along with the Trio at home.

Aaron Weinstein: Jazz Mandolin Chord Melody. Aaron will give an overview of chord melody in jazz mandolin and discuss common stylistic techniques in this live workshop. There will be time for up to three participants to play their own arrangements during the workshop for Aaron to comment on.

Matthias Collet: Antonio Lauro’s Venezuelan Waltzes for Guitar. Guest artist Matthias Collet is an expert on Latin American guitar music. Join him for an exploration of the Venezuelan waltzes of one of the most important Latin American composers for guitar, Antonio Lauro. 

Handouts for workshops will be posted in advance of the convention. Workshop participants will have opportunities to ask questions of presenters, either during or after the workshop or webinar.

Each evening, we’ll host hangout sessions on specific topics, such as Mando for Kids, a Mandola Meet-up with Robert Margo, a Mandocello Meet-up with Jim Imhoff, and others to be announced.

Participate

Open Mic

Although our convention is very different this year, we want to capture the energy and enthusiasm that characterize this popular event. There will be two types of open mic events this year: The Saturday Night Open Mic Concert, and the OnDemand Performances. Both events will consist of pre-recorded performance videos submitted by our members. All submitted videos will appear in the OnDemand media, which members who register for the convention may view at their leisure. A selection of submitted videos will appear in the Saturday Open Mic Concert, selected based on adequate sound and lighting quality, variety of performances, and time limitations for the concert.

Submission Deadlines

• People interested in submitting open mic videos must express their intention of doing so no later than Sunday, October 18, 2020. Final videos must be submitted no later than Thursday, October 29.
• Please do not wait until the last minute to submit your video! 
• Let us know if you would like to submit a video but need a bit more time.

Specifications for Videos

• Videos for individuals/duets must not exceed 5 minutes; group videos must not exceed 10 minutes.
• Video submissions don’t have to be new, and group or individual videos are welcome.
• You may submit more than one video.
• Submitted videos must be in final form, not requiring editing or enhancement.
• View Tools for Recording a Successful Open Mic Performance.