The Baton is Passed

Conrad Gebelein conducted the new Baltimore Mandolin Orchestra for five years until his health failed. In late 1980, Benjamin Durant, a retired U.S. Army bandmaster and retired professor of music at the Community College of Baltimore (and son of an avid amateur mandolinist), took over as director of the orchestra.

Mr. Durant continued the fine conducting tradition of his predecessor, and the orchestra put on many well-received concerts around the Baltimore area during his tenure. BMO concerts continued to feature solo performances, including many mandolin solos by Joyce Adams, the orchestra's concertmistress. Mr. Durant devoted a great deal of effort to improving the orchestra, and he capably led the BMO until his untimely death in 1986.

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