Of Note

Off to Rio!

By Marilynn | Published: April 19, 2012

Marilynn will be in Rio for most of June and will be playing at a number of rodas during her stay. The Forte Copacabana rodas are Sundays @ 5:30 and run for two hours. More Information will be available in May. There are also rodas @ Praca Sao Salvador, Bip Bip, and other locations. Email for other venues and times if you too will be in Rio in June.… Read More »

Posted April 19th, 2012

What’s she doing down there?

By Marilynn | Published: January 7, 2012

You can follow Marilynn’s start to the new year in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro on her blog Celebrating a Year where you will find daily posts with photos and reflections on her experiences, musical and otherwise. You can visit by clicking the link above, or subscribe, as the blog has been going for 3 years and will continue even after her South American idyll ends.… Read More »

Posted January 7th, 2012

Momento Rio Bandolim

By Marilynn | Published: October 12, 2011

Marilynn is back from her trip to Brazil in November to give a concert and lecture at the international mandolin festival, Momento Rio Bandolim. For the concert, Marilynn focused on compositions written for and dedicated to her over the course of her career. The lecture highlighted the parallel development of music for mandolin/bandolim in Brazil and the USA throughout the 20th century. More information is available here.… Read More »

Posted October 12th, 2011

Events • In Concert • News

Momento Rio Bandolim

By Marilynn | Published: September 12, 2011

Marilynn will be traveling to Rio to perform and give a lecture at this international mandolin event. Her lecture is Saturday, November 12, and her concert, with guitarist Fabio Nin, is Sunday, November 13. More information is available here.… Read More »

Posted September 12th, 2011

Interview w/ Marilynn on “Bluebell Books”

By Marilynn | Published: July 20, 2011

Jamie Dedes has done a short interview w/ Marilynn about her publishing experiences. Is a new book forthcoming? Find out more…… Read More »

Posted July 20th, 2011

3rd Mel Bay Mandolin Session is now up online

By Marilynn | Published: June 13, 2011

The June-July edition of Mandolin Sessions is up, with Marilynn’s article, “A Syncopated Twist on Chromatic Scales”. It’s the first article taken from her Brazilian Choro book, with an essay on playing chromatic passages, the sheet-music for an exercise from the book and a recording with Marilynn playing it. If you are enjoying Marilynn’s articles on Mandolin Sessions, please leave a comment or let Mel Bay know. Enjoy!… Read More »

Posted June 13th, 2011

CMSA review for “The Complete Mandolinist”

By Marilynn | Published: April 13, 2011

The Mandolin Journal, magazine of the Classical Mandolin Society of America, just published a glowing review of “The Complete Mandolinist,” Marilynn’s mandolin method. An excerpt– “This well thought out book reflects the depth and scope of Ms Mair’s training and artistry and is the product of a lifetime of experience with the classical mandolin…. sure to become the standard in the US. Bravo!”
Buy it now at Amazon.
… Read More »

Posted April 13th, 2011

Chorinho no Forte and more

By Marilynn | Published: March 13, 2011

Carnaval is over and fall rodas start today, as the seasons are reversed here from those in the USA. Marilynn begins her autumn rodas by playing @ Forte Copacabana (info RH column). The EPM Saturday Choro school starts next week as Rio settles into the start of its academic year. Upcoming roda information will be posted in the calendar as it becomes available.… Read More »

Posted March 13th, 2011

Carnaval in Rio

By Marilynn | Published: March 5, 2011

Marilynn is back in Rio for March, right now experiencing her first Carnaval. Nothing else is happening in all of Brasil until next Wednesday. You can see her daily posts and pictures here.… Read More »

Posted March 5th, 2011

1000 posts

By Marilynn | Published: February 16, 2011

I just wrote the 1000th post on my blog Celebrating A Year. For two years and four months I’ve posted a photograph and a thought or poem every day. And for the past several months I’ve posted an mp3 of my music every week as well. Check it out! Here’s the photo that went with post 999.… Read More »

Posted February 16th, 2011

    • “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)