Join our 100th Anniverary Celebration!

With fondest memories Mark Linkins

It is with very heavy hearts that we report the sad news that our great friend Mark Linkins passed away on December 28, 2024. Mark served as music director of the Baltimore Mandolin Orchestra since October 2018. An accomplished musician on multiple instruments Mark shared his musical expertise as a performer and a conductor. He had previously conducted the Munier Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra of Philadelphia, and created and directed the East Coast Mandolin Orchestra. As a composer he contributing significantly to the repertoire for the mandolin. 

Mark’s Celebration of Life will be held at the Gratz College Auditorium, 7605 Old York Road, Melrose Park, PA,19027, on Sunday, January 19 at 11:00 a.m.

Next public BMO concert

Saturday, January 25, 7:30 pm

CREATIVE ALLIANCE
3134 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224

Admission $25 (in advance creativealliance.org or at the door)

100 Years

Baltimore’s “other” orchestra celebrates 100 years since its founding in 1924 by German-born conductor, composer, and music teacher Conrad Gebelein. The 2024 - 25 season features special concerts and programs highlighting original compositions and arrangements by Gebelein and orchestra members.

The Baltimore Mandolin Orchestra, under the direction of Interim Director Joel Michael-Schwartz, is a Baltimore, Maryland-based ensemble of mandolins, mandolas, mandocellos, mandobasses, and classical guitars. We play an eclectic mix of classical music, marches, rags, concert dances, pop tunes and a variety of other traditional compositions and arrangements for mandolin orchestra.  Please explore our site and find out more about us!

Join the Orchestra

If you've thought about joining the BMO - or even if you haven't, but you're reading this - now's the time to check us out.  You're welcome to come to one of our rehearsals on Wednesday evenings, 7:30-9:30, at St. Ursula Catholic Church, 8801 Harford Road, in Parkville.  We meet in the Spiritual Center, which is below the church, accessible from the parking lot in the back of the church.  Bring your mando (or mandola, mandocello, guitar or bass) and you can sit in with one of our members and see how it goes.  We do not bite.

We are always looking for players to join the BMO.  If what you see here sparks your interest, please check us out.  If you play any of our instruments - mandolin, mandola, mandocello, mandobass or classical guitar - please click on "How to join the BMO" on the left.  We also have instruments to loan.  We'd love to hear from you!