“Our founding director, Alan Richmond, was a member of the Classical Mandolin Society of America and he wanted to host the next one (convention),” said DMO member Kathryn Hitchcock. “We turned down 2008. It was just too quick to take it on. We said we’d do it in 2009.”
The convention runs from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1. More than 130 mandolin players have already registered for the event.
“They are coming from all over the country, Canada and a few people from Germany,” Hitchcock said.
The peak of the mandolin’s popularity was at the turn of the 20th century when the Gibson Guitar Company revolutionized the design of the instrument and began marketing it to America’s middle class. At one time it rivaled the piano as the main musical instrument in the household.
“They were very good at sending salesmen out and leasing mandolins so every little town had a mandolin orchestra,” Hitchcock explained. “Orville Wright had a bowl-back mandolin. I’ve seen it. It’s in the Smithsonian. The mandolin kind of died out when the banjo and jazz came in.”
On Friday, Oct. 30, the Dayton Mandolin Orchestra and guest artists Don Stiernberg Trio and Marilynn Mair will perform at Mandolin Mania I at 7:30 p.m. in the ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 33 E. Fifth St., Dayton.
Mandolin Mania II takes place on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 7:30 p.m. at the Masonic Temple 525 W. Riverview Ave. Tickets for both events are $20 for adults, $15 for students and $10 for children ages 12 and younger and are available by calling (866) 611-6285.
“My hope is the DMO will become more visible in the area,” Hitchcock said. “We’re another piece of the pie in the Dayton art scene.”
How to go
What: The Classical Mandolin Society of America’s national convention
When: Oct. 28-Nov. 1
Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 33 E. Fifth St., Dayton
More information: Call (866) 611-6285 or visit www.daytonmandolin.net
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2167 or kmossDaytonDaily News.com.
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