Long Island Mandolin & Guitar Orchestra

Long Island, NY

CMSA Convention Hosts in 1988

The Long Island Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra began in the 1950s as an adult education class sponsored by the Levittown School District in Nassau County. During its 40 years It has played to thousands of appreciative music lovers at programs sponsored by libraries, churches, temples, parks, senior citizens and private organizations such as the Sons of Italy, in a number of towns throughout Suffolk, Nassau, Metropolitan New York and Westchester.

They have performed at Hofstra, Farmingdale, Adelphi Universities, and the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point. They received tumultuous accolades when they performed aboard the S.S. Britannis and S.S. Victoria during Caribbean cruises.

The orchestra is comprised of mandolins, mandolas, guitars, mandocellos, mandobasso and vocalists. Although the members span various age groups, come from all walks of life and enjoy diverse occupations, it is bound together by a love of music and by a desire to increase the popularity of the mandolin and guitar. The membership is comprised of doctors, lawyers, teachers, business men and women. The selections that the orchestra plays includes varied types of music such as International folk, Ethnic, Light Classics, Classical and Popular.

Antonina Nigrelli, an accomplished violinist, violist and mandolinist, is its conductor. She has an extensive music education and performance back-ground. has taught in public schools, colleges and privately. She has played professionally, conducted widely and is at present a free-lance musician who plays with the Celebration Quartet, Balalaika and Domra Society of N.Y. and is the Music Director of the West Islip Concert Orchestra. Charles Sloan, its assistant conductor, has played professionally in bands, symphony orchestras and jazz groups both in the Midwest and New York City including Radio City Music Hall Orchestra and the National Symphony Orch. Assn. under Leon Barzin. He was music coordinator and Conductor of bands and orchestras at Brooklyn Tech. H.S. for 18 years.