An exciting moment is coming up for local musician Tony Stuart.
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He is a part of the Canberra Mandolin Orchestra (CMO) which will be launching a CD called Hopes, Dreams and Memories at a concert on Saturday, June 19.
The event at the Hughes Baptist Church from 2pm to 4pm will include light classical music from Britain, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Germany, Russia, Spain, Poland, Ukraine, Croatia and beyond.
Stuart, who has been with the CMO on and off for about 15 years, will be playing the piano accordion.
The main instrument, of course though, will be the mandolin.
"It's tuned like a violin, but it's treated like a guitar," the 2019 Hume Conservatorium in teacher said.
Stuart has heard the CD already and said he absolutely loved it.
"I've heard the CD and I'm really impressed with it as it sounds really good," he said.
The concert will include the Worldly Goods Choir directed by Canberra musicians John Shortis and Moya Simpson and Greek-Australian multi-lingual singer Theodora Volti.
CMO president Wal Jurkiewicz said the orchestra was awarded a grant by the Capital Arts Patrons Organisation (CAPO) to produce the album featuring the music of the migrant communities that settled in the Canberra region, many of whom worked on the Snowy Mountains Scheme.
"We are so proud to present this album and concert because music has always been a powerful and significant part of identity and culture," Mr Jurkiewicz said.
"This acknowledges how those people left their homes in the aftermath of a devastating war to start a new life in a country many of them knew little about.
"They came with hopes and dreams for their futures and also carried with them their memories of home and family."
The Canberra Mandolin Orchestra was formed in 2003 and brings together players of many instruments.
It works like a string orchestra except that mandolin family instruments are plucked and not bowed.
The mandolin originated in Italy and was mentioned in Australian playbills as early as the mid 1800s.
A "banjo, mandolin and guitar festival" was held in Sydney on August 27.
Tickets for the concert are $20 and $15 and are available at the door or online at www.eventbrite.com.au.
For more information or to order the CD visit www.cmo.org.au or call 0407 431 332.
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