CMSA 2026, Minnesota

Schedule

Keep your calendar full with the events listed below.  There will also be a mobile calendar for the convention.

12pm – 6pm: Registration Area Opens

Drop by the registration area to pick up your packet, say hello, ask questions, and share your convention plans. The registration desk will be staffed every following day from 8am until 6pm.

Grand Foyer

7pm – 9pm: Pre-Convention Workshops Begin

The optional pre-convention workshops begin tonight. You must register ahead of time in order to attend these workshops.

  • Chris Acquavella: Topic to be announced
    TBA
  • Ashley Hoyer: Topic to be announced
    TBA

11am – 1pm: Pre-Convention Workshops Continue

The pre-convention workshops pick up where they left off last night.

  • Chris Acquavella: Topic to be announced
    TBA
  • Ashley Hoyer: Topic to be announced
    TBA

1:30pm – 2:45pm: Workshops Begin

The convention starts for all attendees now! Whet your fingers and imagination with an opening session.

  • Maestro-Abt: Topic to be announced
    Bristol / Oxford
  • Maestro-Beethoven: Topic to be announced
    Edinburgh / London
  • Maestro-Calace: Topic to be announced
    Calhoun

3pm – 5:30pm: En Masse Rehearsal

Don’t be late for the first rehearsal! We’ll figure out seating and Maestro Bates will lead us through our “first reading.” Practice your part ahead of time so it’s not literally your first reading.

Grand Ballroom

8pm – 10pm: Welcome Party

Come meet your colleagues over light dinner and aperitivo. Dress casually, but be sure to wear your best smile.

Great Room / Main Lobby

10pm – 11:59pm: Bach After Hours w/Ken Luk

Ken will host a J.S. Bach jam.

Bristol / Oxford

8:30am – 9:45am: Sectional Rehearsals

Begin your day with your section mates and your instrument. Your section leader will provide technical details regarding your en-masse part.

  • Mandolin 1: Edinburgh / London
  • Mandolin 2: Grand Ballroom
  • Mandolas: Bristol / Oxford
  • Guitar: Cedar
  • Mandocello: Calhoun
  • Bass: Minnetonka

10:00am – 11:15am: Workshops

  • Maestro-Abt: Topic to be announced
    Bristol / Oxford
  • Maestro-Beethoven: Topic to be announced
    Edinburgh / London
  • Maestro-Calace: Topic to be announced
    Calhoun

11:30am – 2:30pm: Solo & Small-ensemble Open-mic

We’ll cheer on our intrepid solo performers.  Don’t forget to reserve a boxed lunch before October 19!

Grand Ballroom

1:15pm – 2:30pm: Workshops

  • Maestro-Abt: Topic to be announced
    Bristol / Oxford
  • Maestro-Beethoven: Topic to be announced
    Edinburgh / London
  • Maestro-Calace: Topic to be announced
    Calhoun

2:45pm – 5pm: En Masse Rehearsal

We’ll work through Saturday’s En Masse Orchestra program again.

Grand Ballroom

8pm – 10pm: Evening Concert

Invite your friends and family for a free concert!  The evening entertainment features…

Grand Ballroom

10pm – 11:59pm: Bet Yer Not Irish Either

Come to play or just listen to Celtic-adjacent music.  We’ll project music if you’re not familiar with the tunes or the evening runs longer than your confidence.

Bristol / Oxford

8:30am – 9:45am: Sectional Rehearsals

Practice makes perfect!  Wake up early to polish your en-masse part with your sectional colleagues and leader.

  • Mandolin 1: Edinburgh / London
  • Mandolin 2: Grand Ballroom
  • Mandolas: Bristol / Oxford
  • Guitar: Cedar
  • Mandocello: Calhoun
  • Bass: Minnetonka

10:00am – 11:15am: Workshops

  • Maestro-Abt: Topic to be announced
    Bristol / Oxford
  • Maestro-Beethoven: Topic to be announced
    Edinburgh / London
  • Maestro-Calace: Topic to be announced
    Calhoun

11:30am – 1:30pm: Gala Banquet & Raffle

President Brumley will announce the annual awards and reveal next year’s convention location over a banquet lunch. Reserve your partner’s lunch when you register to share the fun…. AND BUY LOTS OF RAFFLE TICKETS. Proceeds support scholarships and programming at future CMSA conventions. You might win a the grand prize, a new mandolin, or take home albums, strings, or other musical accessories.

Grand Ballroom

1:45pm – 3:00pm: Workshops

  • Maestro-Abt: Topic to be announced
    Bristol / Oxford
  • Maestro-Beethoven: Topic to be announced
    Edinburgh / London
  • Maestro-Calace: Topic to be announced
    Calhoun

3:15pm – 5:30pm: En Masse Rehearsal

It’s a lot of work to prepare 120 plucked-string musicians for the En Masse Orchestra performance, but more importantly, it’s a lot of fun.

Grand Ballroom

8pm – 10pm: Evening Concert

Invite your friends and family for a free concert!  The evening entertainment features…

Grand Ballroom

10pm – 11:59pm: After-hours w/….

Late night programming to be announced…

TBD

8:30am – 9:45am: Sectional Rehearsals

It’s the last day to buff those rough edges from your technique with your colleagues.

  • Mandolin 1: Edinburgh / London
  • Mandolin 2: Grand Ballroom
  • Mandolas: Bristol / Oxford
  • Guitar: Cedar
  • Mandocello: Calhoun
  • Bass: Minnetonka

10:00am – 11:15am: Workshops

  • Maestro-Abt: Topic to be announced
    Bristol / Oxford
  • Maestro-Beethoven: Topic to be announced
    Edinburgh / London
  • Maestro-Calace: Topic to be announced
    Calhoun

11:30am – 1:00pm: Large-ensemble Open Mic

Cheer on the large-ensemble open-mic participants over lunch.  You can reserve a boxed lunch before October 19.

Grand Ballroom

1:15pm – 2:00pm: General Membership Meeting

Do you want to know what your CMSA Board Members do all year? Do you have questions for them? Do you have ideas for furure activities? Come attend the General Membership Meeting!

Calhoun

2:45pm – 5:15pm: En Masse Rehearsal

It’s a dress rehearsal in name only…. except that you must dress! Just don’t worry about the black shirt and slacks/skirt/dress until the evening. We’ll run through the En-Masse program once more before the final concert.

Grand Ballroom

8pm – 10pm: Evening Concert

The featured event of the convention is another free concert beginning with solo sets from …. The headliners are you — the CMSA En Masse Orchestra, and directed by Dr. Jim Bates. En Masse performers, the dress code is black. Download the evening’s program here.

It’s a free show, but CMSA appreciates (tax-deductible) donations taken at the door. We’ll have a cash bar to help your audience celebrate.

Grand Ballroom

10pm – ???: After Party!

We’ll keep that cash bar around for the after party. Unwind with your colleagues and new best friends and enjoy the exhilaration of completing the convention program with your fingers intact and mind only slightly overflowing with new melodies and rhythms.

Grand Foyer