Registration is open!

Please count on joining us for the 24th edition of the Carlo Aonzo Mandolin Workshop, this year again with Rene Izquierdo as the Assistant Conductor.  Register now!

For 2025 the workshop moves to Nashville, Tennessee.

The dates are Thursday May 22 through Sunday May 25, 2025.

 Is This Workshop for you?

  • Simple answer - YES!

  • We play classical music, including some music written specifically for mandolins

  • This workshop is geared to intermediate and stronger players. If you are at a level lower than intermediate but want to attend, please contact us. It is possible.

  • We keep the workshop small, no more than 42 attendees, so you will get plenty of attention from Carlo

  • The group is very friendly and welcoming, and first timers always enjoy the experience, both musically and personally

  • We distribute sheet music many months in advance and we expect you to prepare it and master it to the best of your ability. This is not a sight reading workshop and is not appropriate for people who want to sight read.

  • The workshop consists of four days of mandolin orchestra rehearsal with 6 actual hours of instruction each day. The last day includes the recital.

The Music  

We can guarantee that the workshop will be very intensive!  We will study all the pieces and play them at an informal recital at the end of the workshop. The recital is open to the public. Please invite your friends.

The music this year is TBD, but will include the same variety of classical, romantic, and new compositions - always delightful and rich in mandolin heritage.

We understand that some people who want to attend the workshop may not be able to attend on Thursday because of work constraints. If you are in this situation, please contact us and we'll try to make an arrangement. However, the workshop fee will remain the same.


MANDOLA AND MANDOCELLO

Mandocellists and mandolists are especially encouraged to attend.

Please note: music for mandolas is provided in alto clef. Please ask as early as possible for octave mandolin parts (treble clef) and transposing parts (alto mandola in treble clef) if needed.

Music for mandocello is provided in bass clef, please ask for transposing parts if needed.

GUITARS

Guitars play the mandocello parts transposed to treble clef when there are no specific guitar parts.

EVENING ACTIVITIES 

As is our tradition, Carlo and Rene will present a concert on Friday night, May 23. We are still working on details, but you can count on an exciting evening.

We encourage you to join us for the group dinners before the workshop starts and after the recital.

FEES

The fee for the workshop is $620 for four days, 24 hours of instruction. The fee does not include food or housing.

For prior-year attendees who register on or before Jan 31, 2025, the fee will be $590.  

For students under 26, the fee is $300.

GROUP ASSIGNMENT

After you have successfully registered, you will be assigned to one of two groups - either “Luna” or “Sole”.  

In terms of difficulty, the music is divided equally between the two groups. For some pieces, the Luna will play the first mandolin part and Sole the second; in other pieces Sole will play first and Luna second.

You will be able to download the music from this website, from a password-protected page. The music is usually available in February OR March.

REQUESTING TO BE IN A SPECIFIC GROUP

We often have more than one person from the same city coming to the workshop.  

Sometimes they want to be in the same group, so they can practice together. Sometimes they want to be in a different group, so they can practice together and hear the different parts.  

If you have a preference about being (or not being) in a group with a specific person, please let us know in the comments section when you register, or after the fact via the contact us page.

HOUSING

We are working on arranging a block of rooms at one of two hotels that are close by.

WHEN SHOULD I ARRIVE

We will start the workshop at 9:30am on Thursday, May 22, so make sure you're in Nashville by then!  

Our recital on Sunday May 25 will be followed by a group dinner.

So, for the full experience, count on arriving in Nashville on Wednesday May 21 and leaving Monday May 26.

MEALS

You are on your own for meals.  However, groups frequently join up for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  There are many restaurants within a two-mile area of our rehearsal space.

EXPECTATIONS

You will prepare and master the music before the workshop to the best of your ability.  This is not a sight-reading workshop.

You will attend all rehearsals Thursday through Sunday (except Thursday exception as described above).  Any evening activities are optional.