Welcome to Marilynn’s webpage!

For over four decades Marilynn Mair has played music across the globe, released two dozen solo and ensemble recordings, published four method books, written countless columns, and taught as a Professor of Music at Roger Williams University. She has dedicated herself to establishing the mandolin as an instrument of importance, for her lifetime and the future. Learn from her journey here. para portugues… Read More »

Posted February 6th, 2024

Enigmatica CD Release Concerts

Enigmatica’s new CD is in production and should be arriving by March 1st! We have 4 release concerts scheduled in Rhode Island for the spring:

Wed. May 1 @ 6:30The Rochambeau Library, Providence
Sat. May 18 @ 7:00The Scituate Historical Society, Scituate
Wed. June 12 @ 6:30The Warwick Public Library, Warwick
Mon. June 17 @ 7:00 — The PAC, Roger Williams University, Bristol

Join us to hear some great music by Bach, the Beatles, Rhiannon Giddens, Astor Piazzolla, and group members and friends.

Posted February 6th, 2024

Great reviews for my newest book and CD!

The Classical Mandolin Society of America’s Journal just came out, and I’m the Featured Review! (Click for the full review) It ends with the quote:

“Marilynn Mair is truly a master of “silver linings.” I believe that it is only a matter of time until Mair’s collections – Nocturnes for Vincent, Etudes en couleurs, and Fantasia in dialogue –become part of the plucked string canon.”

Nice to have my compositions recognized and appreciated!

Posted February 5th, 2024

AMGuSS is June 17-22, 2024. Don’t miss out!

We still have room for a few more students for 2024. You’ll find more information on the week, and our great faculty and cool Guest Artist HERE.

You can download a Registration Form and mail it in with a check. Or you can register and pay via PayPal here: Online Registration.

Enrollment is limited to 35 students, so don’t delay!

Posted January 12th, 2024

Evan Marshall is our AMGuSS Guest Artist 2024

AMGuSS is pleased to announce our 2024 Guest Artist will be Evan Marshall! Evan will give a concert and a workshop for students, as well as coaching one of our small ensembles and playing a concerto with our All-School orchestra, He will also be available for a few private lessons for registered AMGuSS students. For more information email email hidden; JavaScript is required.

 

Posted January 10th, 2024

YouTube Live: AMGuSS w/ Choro das 3 in 2023

Choro das 3 were our AMGuSS Guest Artists in 2023. During the week they included many of us in their weekly YouTube Live broadcast. After AMGuSS they stayed with me for a bit and included Paul and me in the next week’s broadcast. You can see those two weeks here: AMGuSS w/ Choro das 3 and Choro das 3 at Marilynn’s. The AMGuSS one gives an interesting look at the small ensemble choro groups and some folks from the open mic and the late-night jams. Enjoy!

Posted September 1st, 2023

Marilynn’s new book is out ~ print and digital!

Order your copy from Mel Bay, here!

In this 3rd volume of The Complete Mandolinist series, Marilynn Mair presents over 60 of her original compositions, works for mandolin solo and duo, mandolin with guitar, Choro leadsheets, and mandolin ensembles.

Pieces range from moderate to advanced, with most lying between those two parameters. Marilynn’s works show her original compositional style: lively, quirky, heartfelt, and colorful. Years of performing, recording, and arranging give her pieces a classical feel but with a modern twist. Check out the new fun music on the block! The book also includes download of over an hour of Marilynn’s performances.

Posted May 18th, 2023

Silver Lining & Natural History for sale

You can now buy Marilynn’s new CD and Enigmatica’s new CD right from this page! Click on the icons in the right-hand column to take you to the track listings, listening samples, and purchasing link.

Posted October 25th, 2022

6 on Bandcamp

I’ve now got all 6 of my solo CDs up on Bandcamp. Check it out! If you live outside the USA, this is where you can order a CD. If you prefer to download the music rather than buy an actual CD, that can happen on Bandcamp. You can even get a discount to download all 6! You can also listen to the CDs there.

Posted October 10th, 2022

Enigmatica – check out the update!

Enigmatica has a new look and has increased from 8 to 9 players, adding a 7-string guitar. Check out the page update here!

 

Posted September 21st, 2022
    • “Smudging the lines between folk and classical is an intrepid endeavor… Mair’s a superb mandolin player who has brought the instrument to unexpected places…” – Jim Macnie, The Providence Phoenix (USA)

    • “Marilynn Mair has always had the keen ability to balance classical mandolin traditions and repertoire, while constantly breaking new musical ground…a superb and versatile mandolinist and composer.” – – Butch Baldassari, Mandolin Magazine (USA)

    • “Mair travels by mandolin to Brazil and brilliance… her commitment to the music shines through.” – Rick Massimo, The Providence Journal

    • “Stepping back to the 18th-century masterworks gave her the opportunity to highlight her technique with a fresh light… her playing is thoughtful, vibrant and a delight to listen to.” — Terence Pender, Mandolin Quarterly (USA)

    • “She’s a fabulous player with a wonderfully clear and lyrical sound.” – The Ottawa Citizen (Canada)

    • “Mair displays an exceptionally gifted approach to this music, using her formidable mandolin technique with grace and sensitivity… It’s the next best thing to a trip to Rio.” – David McCarty, Mandolin Magazine (USA)

    • “Marilynn Mair performs Brazilian mandolin music… she plays the mandolin as an instrument for all occasions.” – Vaughn Watson, The Providence Journal (USA)

    • “Bring a talented ensemble of gifted musicians together playing some of the great concertos and chamber music pieces of the 1700s, present the extraordinary classical mandolinist Marilynn Mair front and center, and you have a rare combination of the right musicians performing the right music at the right time.” – David McCarty, Mandolin Magazine (USA)

    • “Marilynn Mair é uma bandolinista americana de formação erudita” — Paulo Eduardo Neves, Agenda do Samba Choro (Brasil)

    • “Mair is unstoppable… capable of evoking any landscape, past or present, you’d care to conjure.” – Mike Caito, Providence Phoenix (USA)

    • “Marilynn Mair on mandolin…touches the deepest and most engaging reaches of the ancient and passionate ‘Latin soul’.” – Carlos Agudelo, Billboard Magazine

    • “A lovely concert! We estimate your spell-bound and enthusiastic audience at close to 1800 people…” – Lincoln Center Out-Of-Doors (USA)

    • “The final repeat of the melody transmitted a strong feeling of peace and tenderness that escaped no one in the audience. It is this sensitivity and subtleness that characterized the overall performance.” – Brian Hodel, Guitar Review (USA)

    • “A brilliant concert from beginning to end…The performance was extraordinary.” – La Rioja (Spain)

    • “A sparkling concert… absolutely brilliant!” – Guitar Magazine (England)

    • “Marilynn Mair acquits herself very well indeed, a most accomplished player, able to deal with the many intricacies the repertoire demands of her.” – Chris Kilvington, Classical Guitar (England)

    • “Marilynn Mair lives up to her reputation as an excellent mandolinist, with clear tone, a beautiful tremolo, and creative expressiveness.” – Zupfmusik Magazin (Germany)