BAMC Centennial Concerts

Two concerts were given in celebration of the Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra's 100th Anniversary. The MMO performed with special guests including mandolinist Mike Marshall, percussionist Andy Narell, and vocalist Victoria Benson-Hora.

The first Concert was given on December 8, 2000 at Centennial Hall in Milwaukee. The next performance was at the Prairie School in Racine, Wisconsin on December 9th. There are only a few pictures from the concerts and they were taken at the Prairie school.

Victoria Benson-Hora sang Schubert's "Serenade in d minor (Schwangesang)" with great passion in the German style with instrumental support from the MMO. Victoria gave an amazing performance for the Orchestra. Regrettably, we have no recordings nor pictures from that evening. The "Serenade" was significantly selected for the program because it had an historical link to Milwaukee's mandolin history. That piece was featured in a program presented in 1890 at Eugen Leuning's Music Conservatory, by the Fachutar Mandolin and Guitar Club.

Andy Narell and Mike Marshall presented a beautiful solo set of mostly Brazilian choro music for a thoroughly receptive audience. Mike played mandolin and most of the time, Andy was at the piano. Their performance was dazzling.

During the Orchestra's set, Mike and Andy joined the MMO in a performance of Vivaldi's "Concerto in G Major for two mandolins." Mike was great and the performance was made that much more special by Andy's rendition of the second mandolin part on steel drums.

When we put out a call to the membership for a Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra Centennial photo, many of the members who had not played with us for a while joined in to be a part of history. Thanks to all who sat with us for the portrait and sincere thanks to those who could only be with us in spirit on that day.

A centennial quartet came together for the concerts with Mike Marshall on first, Dave Moynihan on second, Tom Schwark on mandola and Paul Ruppa on mando-cello. They played Edgar Brauer's "Berceuse" with permission and an arrangement from the Modern Mandolin Quartet. This photo was taken at a sound check in Racine. Andy Narell's glistening steel drums are in the foreground.

This is a shot of the Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra in the green room at the Prairie School. Pictured in the photo are: Mike Tesch, Dave, Mike, Jim Gingery, Cecile Cheng, Bill Foley, Shirlee Henningsen, Dorothy Schweisberger, Dorothy Hays, Frank Ullenberg, Ewald Timm, Tom and Paul.

Just before we left Racine, in a blizzard, several members of the ensemble stopped for a photo taken by Frank Ullenberg. Those pictured here are: Tom, Colin O'Brien, Paul, Andy Narell, Dave, Maribeth Sacho, and Mike.