MANDOLIN SCHEDULE
Sunday
October 18
The General Stanton Inn
CONCERT
FESTIVAL KICKOFF
URI Student Groups, Atlantic Mandolin Quartet, Duke Robillard
12-4 pm
General Stanton Inn
Monday
October 19
The Mandolin House
MANDOLIN SOCIAL
Elite Mandolin Soloists
6:00 pm
Mandolin House
Tuesday
October 20
URI Campus
CHORO WARM-UP SESSION
Elite Mandolin Soloists
Taught by Ian Coury
9:00-10:00 am
MANDOLIN LESSONS
Elite Mandolin Soloists
10:00 am-1:00 pm
URI FAC D wing
MANDOLIN LUNCH
1:00-2:00 pm
TBD
REHEARSAL
Elite Mandolin Soloists
2:00–6:00 pm
URI Music Annex
FESTIVAL REGISTRATION
6:30-7:30 pm
Lobby
CONCERT
COMPETITION WINNERS NIGHT
Suzuna Takahashi, Sotiris Athanasiou, Adrian Montero
7:30 pm
Location TBD
Wednesday
October 21
URI Campus
CHORO WARM-UP SESSION
Elite Mandolin Soloists
Taught by Ian Coury
9:00-10:00 am
MANDOLIN LESSONS
Elite Mandolin Soloists
10:00 am-1:00 pm
URI
MANDOLIN LUNCH
1:00-2:00 pm
REHEARSAL
Elite Mandolin Soloists
2:00–6:00 pm
URI Music Annex
FESTIVAL REGISTRATION
6:30-7:30 pm
Lobby
CONCERT
STRING QUARTET, MANDOLIN & GUITAR
Alexey Shabalin, Joe Bentley, Michal Shein, Gillian Gallagher,
Jacob Reuven & Adam Levin
7:30 pm
URI Edwards Hall
Thursday
October 22
URI Campus & The United Theater (Westerly, RI)
NEW ENGLAND INVITATIONAL LUTHIER EXPO
Instrument makers from across the country show their work
9:00 am- 5:00 pm
URI Fine Arts Center
CHORO WARM-UP SESSION
Taught by Ian Coury
9:00 –10:00 am
WORKSHOP
Ekaterina Skliar: Recording for competitions
10:00 am - 11:00 am
​
WORKSHOP
Vincent Beer-Demander: Commissioning Compositions for Mandolin
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
REHEARSAL
Elite Mandolin Ensemble
URI Music Annex
12:00 –2:00 pm
MANDOLIN LUNCH
Elite Mandolin Soloists
2:00–3:00 pm
URI Music Annex
SOUNDCHECK
Elite Mandolin Soloists only
3:00 - 4:30 pm
MANDOLIN OUTREACH CONCERT
Members of the Elite Mandolin Ensemble
5:00–6:00 pm
URI Hillel
​
EARLY REGISTRATION
Mandolin Lovers
United Theater Lobby
6:30-7:30 pm
​
CONCERT
GUITAR & VIOLIN; BANDOLIM, PIANO & PERCUSSION: CELEBRATING BRAZIL
João Luiz, Ian Coury Trio, Duo Sonidos
8:00 pm
United Theater
Friday
October 23
URI Campus
REGISTRATION
9:00 am–5:00 pm
URI Fine Arts Center Lobby
LESSONS
Mandolin Lovers
9:00 am–12:00 pm
URI Fine Arts Center
LESSONS
Elite Mandolin Soloists
9:00 am–12:00 pm
URI Fine Arts Center
LECTURE
Spanish Impressions on Six Strings
Fred Springer
9:30-10:30 am
Location TBD
NEW ENGLAND INVITATIONAL LUTHIER EXPO
Instrument makers from across the country show their work
10:00 am- 5:00 pm
URI Fine Arts Center
​
LUNCH
12:00 – 1:00 pm
WORKSHOP
Ian Coury: Choro Music/Improvization
1:00 –2:00 pm
​
WORKSHOP
Fabio Galucci: Bach Duets for Mandolin
2:00 – 3:00 pm
​
WORKSHOP
Elliot Fisk: Bach on Mandolin
3 - 4:30 pm
​
REHEARSAL
Elite Mandolin Ensemble
URI Music Annex
4:30 – 6:30 pm
MEGA GUITAR & MANDOLIN ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL
4:30–7:30 pm
URI Fine Arts Center Concert Hall​​
CONCERT
MANDOLIN DUO; JAZZ GUITAR & HARMONICA DUO
Vincent Beer-Demander & Fabio Gallucci, Antoine Boyer & Yeonore Kim
8:00 pm
URI, Edwards Hall
​
Saturday
October 24
URI Campus
REGISTRATION
9:00 am–5:00 pm
URI Fine Arts Center Lobby
​
LECTURE
Hand Health
Lisa Gould
9:00- 10:00 am
Location TBD
LESSONS
Mandolin Lovers
URI Fine Arts Center, D Wing
9:00 am–12:00 pm
​
REHEARSAL
Elite Mandolin Soloists
URI Edwards Hall
10:00 am–12:30 pm​​​​
​
NEW ENGLAND INVITATIONAL LUTHIER EXPO
Instrument makers from across the country show their work
10:00 am- 5:00 pm
URI Fine Arts Center
​
LUNCH
1:00-2:00 pm
​
SOUNDCHECK
Elite Mandolin Ensemble
St. Augustine’s Church
1:30 pm
CONCERT
Elite Mandolin Soloists
St. Augustine’s Church
2:30 pm
​​
MEGA GUITAR & MANDOLIN ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL
4:30–7:30 pm
URI Fine Arts Center Concert Hall​​
​
CONCERT
JAZZ QUARTET & CLASSICAL GUITAR LEGEND
Eleonora Strino Quartet, Jorge Caballero
URI Edwards Hall
8:00 pm
​
Sunday
October 25
URI Campus
MEGA GUITAR & MANDOLIN ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL
10:00 - 11:00 am
URI Fine Arts Center
NEW ENGLAND INVITATIONAL LUTHIER EXPO
Instrument makers from across the country show their work
10:00 am- 2:00 pm
URI Fine Arts Center
​
DRESS REHEARSAL
Mandolin Lovers
Time & Location TBD
ENSEMBLES SHOWCASE
Guitar Ensembles, Mandolin Lovers, The Mega Guitar & Mandolin Orchestra
URI Fine Arts Center
11:30 am
LUNCH LECTURE
Bin Hu on Bach
1:00-2:00 pm
URI Fine Arts Center
​
LUTHIER EXPO SHOWCASE
Guitars & Mandolins played by festival artists
3:30-5:30 pm
URI Fine Arts Center
CHAMBER MUSIC ON THE COUCH
Elite Mandolin Soloists
3.30 - 5:00 pm
Mandolin House
GALA FINALE: ELIOT FISK
Classical Guitar​
Prelude by Jacob Reuven, Vincent Beer-Demander, Fabio Gallucci, and Dor Amran
URI Edwards Hall
6:00 pm
​
2026 Concert Artists
Eliot Fisk, Jorge Caballero, Eleonora Strino Quartet, Antoine Boyer & Yeore Kim, Vincent Beer-Demander & Fabio Gallucci, Ian Coury, Duo Sonidos (Adam Levin & William Knuth), Duo Mantar (Adam Levin & Jacob Reuven), Michal Shein, Alexey Shabalin, Joe Bentley, Gillian Gallagher, Sotiris Athanasiou, Suzuna Takahashi, Adrian Montero, Duke Robillard, The Atlantic Mandolin Quartet (Ekaterina Skliar, Dor Amran, Gabriel Locati, Carrera Stamile), URI student band, Heybrajan Tamariz, Andrew Ozwinkle
2026 Teaching Artists
Jacob Reuven, Ekaterina Skliar, Dor Amran, Ian Coury, Vincent Beer-Demander, Fabio Gallucci
2026 Workshops & Lectures
Choro, Brazilian Music, Composition, Jazz, Spanish Impressionism, Hand Health, Social Media for musicians, Bach, and even more!
2026 New England Invitational Luthier Expo
Four days of luthiers showing their craft and talking everything from Baroque guitars to doubletops, culminating in a guitar showcase on the final day when artists and competitors play the guitars for an audience on the main stage of the festival. This year's luthiers giving talks are: Aaron Green, Toby Rzepka, and Daryl Perry.
The Mega Guitar AND MANDOLIN Orchestra
That's right! Last year's inaugural Mega Guitar Orchestra had over 50 members, and this year we're bringing mandolins on board! If you want to join the orchestra, simply check the box when signing up- we'll send the music to you ASAP and talk about part assignments closer to the festival.
​
2025 Schedule of Events
See what happened last year and get a sense of
what a day at the festival looks like
​​​​
​
VENUE LOCATIONS
​
URI Fine Arts Center
105 Upper College Rd., Kingston, RI
​
University Club/Music Annex Building
95 Upper College Rd., Kingston, RI
​
URI Edwards Hall
64 Upper College Rd, Kingston, RI
​
St. Augustine's Church
15 Lower College Rd., Kingston, RI​
​
Courthouse Center for the Performing Arts
3481 Kingstown Rd., W. Kingston, RI
​
General Stanton Inn
4115 Old Post Rd. Charlestown, RI 02813
​
—————————
(M)= Mandolin focused
(G)= Guitar focused
(GM)= General audience
Concerts of course, are for everyone!
​
—————————
​
Sunday, October 19, 2025
General Stanton Inn Hosts URI Guitar Festival
DAY-LONG CONCERT
Featuring
​
Adam Levin, Guitar
Duo Sonidos: Adam Levin, Guitar; William Knuth, Violin
Joe Bentley, Bass
Thatcher Harrison, Guitar
Peter Hand Trio: Guitars & Bass
Quentin October, Guitar
12:00–5:00 pm
​
—————————
Monday, October 20, 2025
​​
MANDOLIN SOCIAL (M)
Mandolin House
3:00 pm
​
CONCERT
Up Close: Spotlight on the Festival’s Creative Visionaries:
Ekaterina Skliar, Dor Amran, Norberto Cruz,
Céili Connors, Victor Main, Jim Davidson, Raffi Donoian
Courthouse Center for the Performing Arts
7:30 pm
​
—————————
​
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
​
LESSONS (M)
Elite Mandolin Soloists
URI Fine Arts Center D107, D108, D208, D210
9:00am–1:00 pm
​
FAMILY-STYLE LUNCH (M)
URI Fine Arts Center, A110
1:00–2:00 pm
REHEARSAL (M)
Elite Mandolin Soloists
URI Fine Arts Center, A110
2:00–5:00 pm
​
CONCERT
Francesco Russo, Mandolin Competition Winner
Kostis Zachariadis, M.E. Bruné Guitar Competition Winner
Enoc Leiton, Costa Rica National Guitar Competition Winner
Courthouse Center for the Performing Arts
7:30 pm
​​
—————————
​​
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
LESSONS (M)
Elite Mandolin Soloists
URI Fine Arts Center D107, D108, D208, D210
9:00 am–12:00 pm
LECTURE (M)
From Crisis Back to Stage
Jacob Reuven and Norberto Cruz
URI Fine Arts Center, A223
12:00–1:00 pm
FAMILY-STYLE LUNCH (M)
URI Fine Arts Center, A223
1:00–2:00 pm
REHEARSAL (M)
Elite Mandolin Ensemble
URI Fine Arts Center, A110
2:00–6:00 pm
CONCERT
Lone Star Strings: Texas Guitar Quartet &
Duo Mantar Premiere: Jacob Reuven, Mandolin; Adam Levin, Guitar
Courthouse Center for the Performing Arts
7:30 pm
​
—————————
​
Thursday, October 23, 2025
EARLY REGISTRATION (M)
Mandolin Lovers
Edwards Hall Lobby
6:30-7:00 pm
​
LUTHIER EXPO (GM)
Invited Builders from across the country
URI Fine Arts Center A219
Recording Studio
10:00am–5:00pm
REHEARSAL (M)
Elite Mandolin Ensemble
URI Music Annex 101 & 113
10:00 am–1:00 pm
FAMILY-STYLE LUNCH (M)
URI Music Annex 113
1:00–2:00 pm
OUTREACH CONCERT/SOCIAL (M)
Hillel House of URI
5:00 pm
​​
CONCERT
Purbayan Chatterjee, Sitar
Amit Kavthekar, Tabla
Mark Lettieri, Guitar
Mathias Duplessy & Friends:
Michal Shein, Cello & Amit Kavthekar
URI, Edwards Hall
7:30 pm
​
—————————
​
Friday, October 24, 2025
​
REGISTRATION (GM)
Mandolin Lovers
URI Fine Arts Center, A wing
10:00 am–5:00 pm
​​
LUTHIER EXPO (GM)
Invited Builders from across the country
URI Fine Arts Center A219
Recording Studio
10:00 am–5:00 pm
​
LESSONS (M)
Mandolin Lovers
URI Fine Arts Center A148, A221, A223
URI Music Annex 104
9:00 am–12:00 pm
​
TECHNIQUE WORKSHOP (G)
Steve Cowan, Guitar
URI Fine Arts Center A220
10:00–10:45 am
​
LECTURE (G)
Improving Chamber Music Skills
Steve Cowan & Adam Cicchillitti
URI Fine Arts Center A220
11:00 am–12:00 pm
​
OPEN REHEARSAL (M)
Elite Mandolin Soloists with Caterina Lichtenberg
Mandolin Lovers invited to observe
URI, Edwards Hall
12:00 pm–1:30 pm
​​
FAMILY-STYLE LUNCH (GM)
URI Music Annex
12:00 pm–2:00 pm
​​
OPEN REHEARSAL (M)
Elite Mandolin Ensemble
Edwards Hall
2:00–3:00 pm
​
RECORDING SESSION (M)
Elite Mandolin Ensemble
Edwards Hall
3:00–4:00 pm
​
LECTURE (GM)
Amanda Kaya
Creating an Authentic Social Media Identity
Convocation, URI Fine Arts Center
1:00 pm
LUTHIER TALK (G)
How to Choose the Right Guitar for You
M. E. Brune, Luthier
URI Fine Arts Center A219
Recording Studio
3:00–4:00 pm
​
LECTURE (GM)
Conducting for future Plucked Instrument Ensemble leaders
Omer Meir Wellber, Dor Amran
URI Music Annex 104
4:30-5:30 pm
​​
CONCERT
Mandolinists Caterina Lichtenberg & Mike Marshall
Cicchillitti-Cowan Guitar duo
Prelude: Caterina Lichtenberg & the Elite Mandolin Ensemble
URI, Edwards Hall
8:00 pm
​​
—————————
​​
Saturday, October 25, 2025
​​
REGISTRATION (GM)
Mandolin Lovers
URI Fine Arts Center, A wing
9:00 am–5:00 pm
​
LUTHIER EXPO (GM)
Invited Builders from across the country
URI Fine Arts Center A219
Recording Studio
10:00 am–5:00 pm
​​
LESSONS (M)
Mandolin Lovers
URI Fine Arts Center, A148, A220, A221, A223
9:00 am–12:00 pm
​
REHEARSAL (M)
Elite Mandolin Soloists
URI Music Annex 104
9:00–11:30 am​​​​
​
LECTURE (GM)
Neural Pathways of Music: Insights from Therapy and Neuroscience
Nicole O’Malley
URI Fine Arts Center A110
12:00–1:00 pm
​​
FAMILY-STYLE LUNCH (GM)
URI Fine Arts Center A150
12:00–1:30 pm
​​​
WORKSHOP (M)
Caterina Lichtenberg
Mandolin Lovers, Elite Soloists
URI Fine Arts Center A110
1:00–2:00 pm​
​
WORKSHOP (M)
Mike Marshall
Mandolin Lovers, Elite Soloists
URI Fine Arts Center A110
2:00–3:00 pm
​​
CONCERT
Elite Mandolin Soloists
St. Augustine’s Church
4:30 pm
​
DINNER BREAK
6:00–8:00 pm
​
CONCERT
Tommy Emmanuel
URI Edwards Hall
8:00 pm
​​
—————————
​​
Sunday, October 26, 2025
​​
LUTHIER EXPO (GM)
Invited Builders from across the country
URI Fine Arts Center A219
Recording Studio
9:00 am–5:00 pm
​
STRING SEMINAR
Presented by Augustine Strings
URI Fine Arts Center A110
9:00–10:00 am
​
DRESS REHEARSAL (M)
Mandolin Lovers
URI Edwards Hall
9:00–10:30 am​
​​​
TONEWOOD PANEL DISCUSSION / Q&A (GM)
With Luthiers Kenny Hill,
Garrett Lee and Marshall Brune
Curated by Spencer Ladd
Moderated by Gef Fisher
URI Fine Arts Center A219
Recording Studio
10:00 –11:00 am
​
GUITAR SHOWCASE (GM)
Guitars from the Expo played by festival artists
URI Fine Arts Center A219
Recording Studio
11:00 am–12:00 pm​​
FAMILY-STYLE LUNCH (GM)
URI Fine Arts Center A110
11:30 am–1:00 pm
COMPETITION FINALS (G)
URI Fine Arts Center Concert Hall
12:30–1:30 pm
​
STUDENT CONCERT
Rising Stars Participants, Invited Guitar Ensembles, Mandolin Lovers
URI, Edwards Hall
2:00 pm​​
​​​
GALA FINALE CONCERT & COMPETITION PRIZE CEREMONY
Prelude: Mega Guitar Orchestra, Elite Mandolin Ensemble
Meng Su, Classical Guitar
5:00 pm
​