Gallery

     These first four photos are the ones that appear in the slide show on our home page.  Here you can look at them at your leisure! 

     This photo above was taken at a concert the BMO gave in the Listening and Viewing Room in the Student Union at Johns Hopkins University on 15 May 1977.  BMO director Conrad Gebelein, who was also the long-time Music Director at Hopkins, is standing in the center in his trademark white suit.  Joyce Adams (second from left) and Howard Bronstein (third from left) are still playing with the orchestra today.

     On 17 April 2005 the BMO performed as part of a concert series at the Catonsville Presbyterian Church.  The director is David Evans.  We had a little trouble fitting everyone on the altar area, and the mandocellos and mandobass had to squeeze in on the left.

     The BMO used to rehearse at one time in member Mary Markakis' living room.  In this photo taken on 8 April 1983 Mary is standing in the back row, fourth from the right.  Director Benjamin Durant is seated in the wheel chair on the left.

     Here we are on 21 February 2010 playing at the beautiful Avalon Theatre in Easton, Maryland--a superb venue for an orchestra like ours.  Soprano Beatrice Gilbert is singing and director David Evans is conducting. 

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     Here are some photos of the orchestra and its former directors that do not appear elsewhere on this website or in the BMO history booklet, "Baltimore's Other Orchestra."

     This is the first known photo of the BMO.  It appeared in the 1926 Gibson catalog.  It was probably taken some time in 1925.  Director and orchestra founder Conrad Gebelein is standing in the center rear.

     A priceless picture of the BMO going somewhere (or already there...in New York City maybe?) some time probably in the late 1920s.  Orchestra director Conrad Gebelein is standing on the left.  Unfortunately, we haven't been able to identify any of the other folks.  Get a load of that bus!

     This is what Conrad Gebelein's music studio at 209 West Franklin Street in Baltimore looked like around 1929.

     Here's a personalized, autographed photo from Dave Apollon to "Gebby"--Conrad Gebelein--dated 2 December 1941.

     In addition to being a multi-talented performing musician, composer and music teacher, Conrad Gebelein was also a very accomplished artist.  Here he is in 1962 with his portrait of guitarist Andres Segovia (which Segovia autographed in the upper right-hand corner).  This painting showed up for sale on E-Bay in March 2012.  It sold for $382.00.

    A very relaxed-looking BMO director Benjamin Durant ca. 1983.

     BMO members Joyce Adams and Mary Markakis in a March 1984 publicity photo for the last of three International Mandolin Festival concerts on April 8th at Goucher College's Kraushaar Auditorium.  The festival consisted of three concerts at three different venues in the Baltimore/Washington metropolitan area.  And three different orchestras performed at all three concerts--the Takoma Mandoleers (from Arlington, VA), the visiting L'Ensemble a Plectre de Toulouse (from Toulouse, France), and the Baltimore Mandolin Orchestra.

     The BMO in the Pickersgill library ca. 1990.  Director David Evans is kneeling on the left.

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     And some more recent photos: 

     This photo of the BMO was taken at a concert at the Bel Air United Methodist Church on 21 April 2002.  Director David Evans and soprano Beatrice Gilbert are seated in the second row in the middle.

     These are the performers at the BMO's first "open mic" on 1 December 2004.  It was graciously hosted by Mary Markakis at her home.  The affair (which was also a fabulous food fest!) was a big success, and we've continued the tradition since then by having at least two open mics a year.  These open mics give BMO members a non-critical venue to perform in alone or in small ensembles. 

     Here's former BMO director David Evans playin' it cool at the BMO's second open mic on 18 June 2005.

     This is Roger Price (with Hal Laurent on bass) singing his tribute (a la Johnny Cash) to first mandolinist and mandolin/trumpet soloist Don Tison, who was about to move away from the Baltimore area.  Don is seated second from the right.  We had a farewell party for Don at Pickersgill on 6 September 2006.

     The BMO "banding together for Butch" on 17 October 2007.  Mandolinist Butch Baldassari died too young on 10 January 2009 of an inoperable brain tumor.   

     On 2 December 2009 BMO members volunteered to answer telephones at a Maryland Public Television membership drive.  MPT aired a classical music program that evening--an Andrea Bocelli and David Foster Christmas concert--which was a good match for us.  We never found out how much money we raised for MPT that night, but it had to be millions!

   This is the BMO performing at the 2011 convention of the Classical Mandolin Society of America on October 15, 2011.  The venue is Kraushaar Auditorium on the campus of Goucher College.  This convention, the 25th annual gathering of the CMSA, was held in Baltimore and was hosted by the BMO.  In this photo David Evans conducts as soprano Beatrice Gilbert prepares to sing.  This was the last appearance of David Evans with the BMO;  with this concert he retired after 25 years as the BMO's director.  

          Carlo Aonzo playing with the Baltimore Mandolin Orchestra, March 23, 2013

On March 23, 2013, the Baltimore Mandolin Orchestra was honored to have Italian classical mandolin virtuoso Carlo Aonzo join us in a concert.  Unfortunately, the concert was not open to the general public, but for the 175-200 employees of The Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, who did attend, it was a jaw-dropping musical experience and an unparalleled introduction to Italian classical mandolin music performed by an undisputed master. 

                       Carlo Aonzo playing a solo with Tony Norris on guitar

Aside from playing along with the BMO’s first mandolin section throughout the evening, Carlo also regaled the audience with a fabulous solo – “Valzer Fantastico” by Enrico Marucelli.  The crowd’s enthusiastic response called for more, so Carlo went on to play Vittorio Monti’s “Czardas” as an encore.  BMO guitarist Tony Norris accompanied Carlo on both pieces.  It was a magical and unforgettable evening for the BMO.