2025 Convention
Join us for an unforgettable experience at the Classical Mandolin Society’s 2025 annual convention in Portland, Oregon, for North America’s largest gathering of classical mandolinists.
- October 29 – November 1, 2025
- Optional Pre-convention workshops October 28
- Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel
Classical Mandolin Society 2025 Annual Convention
October 29 – November 1, 2025
The Classical Mandolin Society of America and your host, the Oregon Mandolin Orchestra invite you to attend the 39th Annual CMSA Convention in Portland, Oregon, Wednesday October 29 through Saturday, November 1 at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel.
Lodging
We’ll gather for the 2025 Convention at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel, where convention attendees receive discounted room rates and free parking.
Here are a few of the amenities:
- Free 24-hour shuttle
- On-site parking (free with CMSA discounted room rate)
- Restaurant
- Free WiFi
- Pool and whirlpool
- Fitness Center
Do you need an activity away from the hotel? Check out The Grotto botanical garden, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, or the (tax-free) Cascade Station shopping mall.
The special room rates apply three days before and after the convention, so bring your family or a partner and make a vacation out of the trip. If you would like to reserve your room for the extended period, please contact Claudia Brumell at (503) 335-2857 or [email protected] .
Transport
The Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel is located at 8235 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97220. This location is directly on airport grounds, one mile from the terminal’s front door. Here’s a breakdown of how to get to and from the hotel:
Direct from Portland International Airport (PDX):
- Hotel Shuttle (Complimentary): The Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel offers a complimentary 24-hour airport shuttle service. Look for signage for hotel shuttles at the airport or contact the hotel directly for pick-up information.
- Walk! If you’re feeling nimble or wish to stretch your legs after the flight, there’s a sidewalk from the terminal’s front door to the hotel.
- MAX Light Rail (Red Line): Board at the aiport station and disembark at the Mount Hood Avenue Station, walk 0.6 miles NE on the sidewalk to the hotel. Board the Red Line to Hillsboro at this same station to get to downtown and all points in the regional transit network. The fare is $2.80 or $1.40 for senior/65+ and youth/7-17. Pay before boarding with a contactless credit card, or a smartphone.
- Ride-Sharing Services (Uber/Lyft) and Taxis: Your driver might not want to waste time with such a short trip to the airport, but if you’re headed elsewhere from PDX, follow signs for the taxi and rideshare pickup inside Level 1 of the Short-Term Parking garage.
- Rental Cars: Many rental car companies operate at PDX. Parking is included in the special convention room rates at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel.
Featured Guest Artists
We are thrilled to present an exceptional lineup of guest artists at this year’s convention. These talented musicians will not only perform but also lead insightful workshops and serve as your section leaders.
Vincent Beer-Demander
will lead the first mandolin section. Beer-Demander has built an enviable reputation as a notable teacher, composer, arranger, organizer, artistic and musical director for several ensembles. He is art director for the Academie de Mandoline et Guitare in Marseille.
Fiona Horbach
is a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, will lead the second mandolins. A pillar of the Sydney Mandolin Orchestra, she has performed internationally and around Australia in plucked-string orchestras, chamber groups and as a soloist. In 2010, 2014 and 2018 she performed in two groups at the BDZ Eurofestival in Germany.
Fabio Gallucci
is a graduate of the Conservatory of Naples and, with Beer-Demander, co-founded the Quintet à Plectres de France. He will lead the octave mandolins. In addition to his academic background, Gallucci has peformed across Europe, United States and Israel.
Werner Ruecker
serves as this year’s CMSA composer-in-residence. Additionally, he will lead the guitar section. A composer, conductor, and arranger, he has served as director of the Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra. Ruecker currently serves as the conductor and musical director of the Sydney Mandolin Orchestra.
Vincent Beer-Demander
First-mandolin section leader
Fiona Horbach
Second-mandolin section leader
Fabio Gallucci
G-mandola section leader
Werner Ruecker
Composer in-residence and guitar section leader
Jim Bates
En Masse Orchestra Conductor
Jeff Brumley
Mandocello section leader
Kristin Stiteler
C-mandola section leader
Pre-Convention Workshops
Our pre-convention workshops offer a unique opportunity for participants to delve deep into technique with a master musician. This year features two parallel tracks from which participants can pick from two evening and two morning courses.
Tuesday evening:
- Mandolin technique with Vincent Beer-Demander: Technique through Animals. Discover mandolin techniques through Vincent’s “Bestiare” for solo mandolin or mandola. Open to all levels.
- Guitar technique with Werner Ruecker: How to build a solid foundation to your technique and get the most out of your practice. Werner will take a look at how to build your technique from the ground up, the importance of routines in your practice, and setting goals and controls to keep you moving forward.
Wednesday morning:
- Octave-mandolin technique with Fabio Gallucci: Topics cover coordination skills, chords, accompaniments and polyphonic arrangements.
- Ensemble skills with Fiona Horbach & Werner Ruecker: This workshop will focus on ensemble skills whether you are playing as a duo, in a chamber ensemble, or an orchestra from the perspective of the player, conductor, and composer. Werner will be sharing some of his own compositions and arrangements for you to develop your musical skills. All instruments and levels of experience are welcome.
 Sign up for both an evening and a morning session for $100 or just one for $65 at registration.
Check out the schedule in the title link above, or save it to your phone by logging into your CMSA account by clicking the “Sign in” button in the bootstrap in this window, and download the convention app under the “Convention” tab.
Open-Mic Performances
It’s often been said that “open mic is the soul of the CMSA convention.” Thursday and Saturday at lunch there will be opportunities for small and large ensembles, respectively, to perform over lunch for convention attendees.
[There are no available slots for additional performances.]
There are boxed lunches available for preorder before October 21.
Pricing
Pre-convention workshops, and membership renewal are additional.
You must be a member of CMSA to register for the convention. Become a CMSA member or renew your membership here.
En Masse Performer: $410*
Early registration for full convention access
Play in the En Masse Orchestra
$460 after September 28
Non Performer: $370*
Early registration for full convention access
$420 after September 28
Day Pass: $75 member/$100 non-member
One-day pass
Excludes En Masse Orchestra performance (you may observe rehearsals)
Excludes Gala Banquet
Non-members receive 50% discount towards 2026 CMSA membership
Vendor Table Rental: $50
Tuesday-Saturday
Anyone selling instruments, sheet music, music equipment or supplies, clothing or other goods is asked to rent a table in our Vendor area. We situate our Vendor areas so that they receive a high volume of traffic as attendees move from activity to activity. Please ensure that your table is manned during convention hours.Â
t-shirts
unisex-heavy-portland-tee
fitted-vee-portland-tee
Don’t forget to order your convention t-shirt at the registration site. We’ll collect orders until September 22nd to be delivered with your information packet upon convention check in. There will only be a limited number of unisex-sized shirts available for sale at the convention.
Scholarships
There are two avenues for plucked-string players looking for extra assistance to come to the annual convention:
- CMSA Student Scholarship for full-time high-school and college students,
- Lou Chouinard Scholarship for first-time convention attendees.
Both scholarships provide a one-year CMSA membership (or extension), registration to the convention and one pre-convention workshop, and a stipend to support travel and lodging.
Attendees are expected to participate at the convention Wednesday – Saturday, attend sectional rehearsals, perform in the En Masse Orchestra, attend the Gala Banquet, and provide written exposition of the convention experience suitable for publication in The Mandolin Journal.
Donate
Help us support our programs and scholarships.
Your dollars will allow us to support the creation of new music for mandolin family instruments and orchestras, build online libraries of historic and new mandolin music, support luthiers, and continue our educational goals to provide stimulating and innovative workshops, and support artists from around the world. Your generosity also supports our scholarship and Mando-for-Kids programs, supporting mandolin students.
We invite you to help sponsor our annual convention and to reach out to our members. Benefits such as ads in the printed program and the Mandolin Journal allow you to connect with members. Plus, we’ll even reserve a vendor table for you at the convention. Diamond-level sponsors can even attend the En Masse Orchestra rehearsals!
Would your orchestra like extra visibility at the convention? Do you have a musical message to get out? Support the convention by placing an ad in the attendee guide or evening program.Â