David Grisman and Mike Marshall, two legends of American mandolin music, have announced they are discontinuing their Mandolin Symposium which had been held annually at UC Santa Cruz this past twelve years. Dozens of top eight-stringers from around the world have taught there over the past decade plus.
Their efforts with the Symposium were not limited by playing style, with representatives of every imaginable discipline represented. Masters of bluegrass, folk, jazz, classical, klezmer, Brazilian, and Italian mandolin music have been featured in their sessions.
Grisman and Marshall shared this statement about the Symposium.
“We’d like to thank our partner Stephen Ruffo, our incredible staff and all of the talented instructors who have helped make this annual event a true celebration of the versatility and beauty of the mandolin. We appreciate all your skills and efforts in helping us create a broad and far-reaching curriculum each year.
To our many students who have attended during the past 12 years — we thank you for passionately consuming everything we could throw at you and still wanting more. Your eagerness to learn and grow is inspiring. You made this event possible.
Hopefully we’ll be able to make the Mandolin Symposium experience available to you in the future.”
Let’s hope to see them come roaring back again before long.
